Medtronic Pacemaker Survives 73-Mile-High Test

Medtronic’s transcatheter pacing system passed a “space test,” continuing to function after being launched into Earth’s sub-orbit.

The company’s Micra Transcatheter Pacing System, the world’s smallest pacemaker, survived a test in which, along with other experiments, it was loaded into the nose cone of NASA’s Orion rocket.

The device was still functioning following a 13-minute, 73-mile-high flight.

During the launch, the device was subjected to vibrations more intense than those of a paint shaker and temperatures of up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the company. Analysts said the device “interpreted the shaking as exercise” and adjusted its pacing accordingly.