Space, What's in it for You?

When we hear of the tremendous cost of the NASA space program, it can sometimes make us wonder if it's really all worth it. The scientific information about the universe, our solar system, and even the weather systems of our planet are, of course, invaluable. Some would argue, however, that the need is greater here on Earth, especially in times of economic downturn when we are strapped for cash as a nation. Often overlooked are the many technological contributions to our own everyday lives that come out of NASA and the space program.

NASA's Technology Utilization Program

In 1962, NASA created the Technology Utilization Program to allow private industry access to the technologies developed by the space program so that they could be adapted to other, non-space uses. Most people think of relatively minor contributions like memory-foam mattresses made from a material that was originally designed to help cushion astronauts' bodies from the pummeling of the high G-forces and severe vibrations they experienced during rocket lift-offs. While that's all well and good, it's hard to justify the costs of the space program based on the fact that a few people can sleep more comfortably at night. There are, however, a number of much more important applications of technologies originally developed by or for the NASA space program, that go quite a bit further to help us understand the real benefits derived from undertaking the challenges involved in space exploration to which no current solutions exist.

Artificial Heart Pumps from Space Shuttle Technology

For one, space shuttle fuel pumps were adapted by NASA and Dr. Michael DeBakey to be used as ventricular assist pumps that have saved hundreds of lives to date. The tiny precision pumps are just one inch in diameter, and can pump blood without the excessive turbulence or blood cell trauma that can lead to fatal blood clots.

NASA Video Enhancement Aids Homeland Security

From a homeland security and law enforcement perspective, image processing technology designed to help analyze space shuttle launches has been adapted to enhance security camera footage that was previously unusable due to image jitter, heavy zoom, or rotation issues. Now faces can be clearly captured from film that previously showed only the vaguest blurs of a human face. This technology is also being adapted for use in enhancing medical imagery.

NASA Insulation and Industrial Lubrications

Better insulations and lubricants designed for specialized applications have improved over materials commonly used in home insulation, automobile lubrication, and many other similar uses. Improved insulation helps reduce home heating costs and helps reduce our dependence upon foreign oil by allowing us to reduce wasted heat in our homes.

NASA Technology Saving Lives in Your Community

A new version of the Jaws of Life used to cut automobile accident victims out of the wreckage of their cars uses space shuttle technology to reduce its cost by as much as 70% over the previously used version, allowing more communities to add these life-saving devices to their emergency medical service (EMS) and first response teams. Many of the technologies developed for NASA fall into the safety system category because space travel is such a difficult and risky endeavor. As NASA researchers develop new methods for preventing injury to space crews under extraordinary conditions, these safety devices are leveraged into commonplace applications such as automobiles, factories, power plants, and more to save lives and prevent serious accidents.

NASA Technology in Your Home

In our homes, things like infra-red ear thermometers, freeze-dried foods, improvements to baby food formulas, scratch resistant and UV blocking eyeglass lenses, wireless headsets, running shoes that better cushion our feet from stress and impact, adaptive software that learns user preferences from past behavior, and many other unique technologies can be found that are directly attributable to developments made by or for NASA's space program.

NASA Technology in Your Car

Automobile safety analysis has seen huge gains thanks to software and methods developed by NASA to predict and prevent failure of critical space vehicle components and to protect the lives of NASA astronauts. Improvements to brakes systems, automobile chassis, and even radial tires have been introduced due to the infusion of NASA technologies.

Life-saving Weather Satellites

Satellites used for monitoring and learning about Earth's weather patterns and oceans help to save lives by providing enhanced prediction capability for hurricanes, flooding, and other life-threatening weather events. They also help us predict future weather trends on a long term basis helping us to grow our understanding of long term climate trends and our own effects upon them.

NASA Technology Helps Drive American Industry

The fields of medicine, manufacturing, air transportation, sewage treatment, food safety and preservation, public safety, sports equipment, and automobiles have all used NASA-derived technologies for our benefit. Not only do we enjoy the added functionality or safety provided by these technologies, but their inclusion into everyday products helps drive our country's economic engine as these technologies lower costs or increase markets for American companies. Entire companies and industries spring up out of the application of NASA technologies.

NASA Reaches for the Stars and the Stripes

The application of these technologies to our everyday lives isn't something that would happen without a concerted effort to overcome the unique and immensely difficult challenges faced by the space program. By setting ourselves difficult goals, we find solutions to problems by inventing new ways of doing things. Applying these solutions to everyday problems afterwards allows us all to reap the benefits of that research and effort. Since the days when American hero Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon, America has been seen as the technological leader of the entire world. No other nation, even to this day, has been able to match what we did forty years ago.

Preserving America's Role as World Leader

Our ability to translate advanced technology into solutions for our nation's and the world's problems sets us apart from everyone else. The future of our economic health is based upon the United States being a technology innovator and a leader in developing and exporting high tech solutions. Reducing and eliminating a basic engine of that innovation, our space program, doesn't leave more money for other things. It cripples our future growth and slows our pace at a time when other nations are seeking to not just catch up, but are attempting to pass us by and take away our leadership position. Preserving funding for NASA and the space flight program, even if it is through an enhanced partnership with private industry, is not only the patriotic thing to do, but is critical to the economic future of this great nation.

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Sources:

www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm

www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/pdf/Shuttle_spinoffs.pdf

www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinhist.html

www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2008/pdf/timeline_08.pdf