After Hours

NASA tech breakthroughs that led to innovations

By · January 20, 2011, 3:22 AM PST

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  • Semiconductors

    NASA has long been one of two major government science and technology incubators (the other is DARPA). One of the best things about the space agency is also one of the least known outside the scientific community: NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program has allowed the organization to share many technologies with the private sector, spurring other technological breakthroughs and helping to commercialize these innovations. The NASA Spinoff site will give you an idea of the scope of this program, which has existed since 1976. This gallery features some of the modern inventions for which the space agency is ultimately responsible.

    Many semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturers were able to experiment on the public dime. The fact that parts for the Apollo program had to be precise, error free, and durable made for extremely high-quality manufacturing and taught the industry many lessons.

    Photo credit: CNET

  • 3D computer models

    The first instances of computer-generated 3D graphics were built for NASA simulators. The first simulations NASA used were in wind tunnels, which became too expensive and cumbersome as their needs evolved. 3D graphics began evolving from space shuttle simulators that allowed NASA engineers to look at different scenarios in a far more streamlined way than in the past.

    Photo credit: CNET

  • Virtual reality and head-mounted displays

    Just like 3D modeling, virtual reality and the head-mounted displays have their roots in the space program. These technologies also allowed flow visualization engineers to look through their data by moving their heads and gave them the ability to "walk" through their data sets.

    Photo credit: CNET

  • The venerable joystick

    The first joystick was used on the Apollo Lunar Rover, but quickly made it into the hands of geeks, giving them control of computer-generated worlds.

    Photo credit: CNET

  • Satellite radio, television, and telecommunications

    NASA has been putting satellites into space since the 1950s. These satellites have allowed the creation of satellite radio, satellite television, long distance telephone calls, and an Internet that spans oceans.

    Photo credit: CNET

  • Scratch resistant lenses

    Scratch resistant lenses were first developed for use in space suits, but have since found their way into everything from eyeglasses to iPhones.

    Image credit: NASA

  • Invisible braces

    The ceramic material used to protect astronauts from the heat of reentry has been re-purposed for use in braces that are nearly invisible. These braces have even been used by celebrities including Tom Cruise.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • CT scanners

    I had the unfortunate experience of having to take my four year old for a CT scan several months ago. I don't know that I have been quite that scared in my adult life, but I am certainly glad that NASA spurred the technology that allowed doctors to determine that there doesn't appear to be anything wrong in his head, aside from the genetics he inherited from me.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Zero G treadmills

    Treadmills have been around for a long time, but NASA had to do some things differently because zero gravity poses some challenges when it comes to walking. The spinoff is a therapeutic treadmill that allows adjustments for how much weight the patient is allowed to put on their legs. The collar around the waist lets the user adjust so that if they are recovering from broken bones or atrophied muscles, the legs don't have to bear their entire weight.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Differential GPS

    GPS evolved out of a military project using satellites launched by the space agency. These days, GPS is being enhanced by software that NASA hopes will allow geolocation to within four inches horizontally and eight inches vertically as well as location services above and below 75 degrees (most of Greenland and Antarctica), where the system doesn't currently work.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Hybrid battery technology

    The biggest limitation when it comes to space is weight. The reason that much of the astronauts' food is dehydrated is to reduce the weight that must be launched into space (it costs about $10,000 per pound to launch material on the Space Shuttle). Batteries receive a lot of attention at NASA as batteries are necessary to provide power, but historically are very heavy. NASA provided engineering assistance to the development of lithium-powered vehicles when Kennedy Space Center entered into an agreement with Hybrid Technologies, Inc. This photo is of the EV MINI Cooper.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Insulating paint

    The Space Shuttle program resulted in a paint additive that increases the insulating properties of paint. It can be added to interior or exterior paint and can help reduce energy bills.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Memory foam

    One of the hottest technologies in bedding materials was developed by NASA to absorb shock during launches and landings. Since then, this resilient material has ended up in mattresses, pillows, football helmets, and shoe insoles.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Predictive software

    The pure volume of data collected by NASA is almost unimaginable. Mining this data to find relevant information can be a challenge, to put it mildly. One of the projects that evolved out of data mining attempts is software that can predict errors that may occur during software development.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Robots

    NASA has quite a history with robotics. The Mars rovers have outlasted their specifications by years, and we still have robotic spacecraft exploring the areas in and around our solar system. These days, robots allow soldiers to search for improvised explosive devices without risking human life and limb.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Speedo LZR Racer suit

    With all of the study that NASA has done over the years on drag and wind resistance, it should come as no surprise that this research was used to create the Speedo swimsuit that helped Olympic athletes wearing it to capture 94% of the gold medals in the most recent summer games.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Bulletproof vests

    Many of the materials developed by NASA for use on the Space Shuttle have found their way into body armor used by soldiers.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Modern wind turbines

    Dr. Larry Viterna was a NASA researcher who put together some of the designs for modern wind turbines for generating power from the wind. Thirteen experimental models were built throughout the country. Viterna notes that these were record setting in size and output. The 4-MW capability of the WTS-4 turbine, built in 1982 in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, was not surpassed for about 25 years.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Self-righting life raft

    One technology that has been credited with saving (at least) hundreds of lives outside the space program is the self-righting life raft developed for use by the astronauts after they returned to Earth from the Moon.

    Photo credit: NASA

  • Hewlett Packard was one of the space industry's first contractors!

    While this isn't a reference to a specific product innovation, it's interesting to note that the roots of Hewlett Packard's partnership with NASA goes back to before the space agency was even formally created, when they sold instruments to the nascent agency.

    Photo credit: CNET

Semiconductors

NASA has long been one of two major government science and technology incubators (the other is DARPA). One of the best things about the space agency is also one of the least known outside the scientific community: NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program has allowed the organization to share many technologies with the private sector, spurring other technological breakthroughs and helping to commercialize these innovations. The NASA Spinoff site will give you an idea of the scope of this program, which has existed since 1976. This gallery features some of the modern inventions for which the space agency is ultimately responsible.

Many semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturers were able to experiment on the public dime. The fact that parts for the Apollo program had to be precise, error free, and durable made for extremely high-quality manufacturing and taught the industry many lessons.

Photo credit: CNET
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