NASA Spinoff Reveals Benefits of Space Technology in Our Daily Lives
Curious how a device designed to produce fuel and oxygen on Mars transformed into a source of clean energy right here on Earth? The 2010 edition of NASA’s annual Spinoff publication is now available online, highlighting new innovations and notable examples of NASA technology improving everyday life on our home planet.
Spinoff provides an in-depth look at how the agency’s initiatives in aeronautics and space exploration have resulted in beneficial commercial technologies in the fields of health and medicine, transportation, public safety, consumer goods, environmental protection, computer technology, and industrial productivity. These advancements enhance our quality of life while contributing to the nation’s economy through the creation of jobs and the support of businesses, large and small. They also help to inspire younger generations to explore education and careers in science, technology, math, and engineering.
“Through NASA’s work with its commercial partners, technologies that are helping us explore our universe are now also saving lives, preserving our environment and enhancing our nation’s transportation and security,” said Bobby Braun, chief technologist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Since 1976, NASA’s Spinoff publication has documented more than 1,700 compelling examples of NASA research and innovation that benefit the public every day.”
Spinoff 2010 contains dozens of examples highlighting how space technology yields innovations with Earthly benefits, including:
* Algorithms developed by a NASA researcher that are enabling technology for medical diagnosis and prediction of brain blood flow-related conditions such as stroke, dementia, and traumatic brain injury
* NASA-proven, drag-reducing wing modifications that have already saved commercial airlines more than 2 billion gallons in jet fuel
* Inflatable antennas — developed with NASA funding — that support essential communication needs in remote areas during military operations, as well as in disaster zones
* Image sensors, invented by a NASA team, that are now featured in one out of every three cell phone cameras
* A groundwater remediation compound, created by NASA to treat contaminated launch facilities, now being used to clean up polluted areas around the world
Spinoff also profiles NASA’s research and development activities, education efforts and partnership successes for the year. This edition celebrates the 10th anniversary of continuous habitation onboard the International Space Station, revealing the many ways that technologies developed for the space station have resulted in public benefits on Earth.
The NASA Spinoff 2010 edition is available in PDF format for downloading from the NASA Spinoff website at: http://bit.ly/hHKGTz
An archive of Spinoff features and a searchable database of NASA-derived technologies featured in past issues of the publication also are available at the NASA Spinoff site. An interactive Spinoff 2010 DVD, featuring videos and Web links, will be available through the NASA Spinoff Web site later this month.
To access an interactive feature about how NASA impacts your daily life, visit the NASA City and Home Web site at: http://www.nasa.gov/city
Social media audiences can learn more about spinoff technologies and other NASA partnerships on Twitter and Facebook at: http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Spinoff and http://www.facebook.com/nasainyourlife
For more information about NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/oct
