Cultural Relevant
NASA in Our Everyday Life
Human history is full of stories about the human spirit’s quest for exploration and deeper knowledge. People continue in that same spirit today. Only our search takes us to labs and space and new fields for research and creative endeavors. NASA has often been criticized for wasting taxpayer dollars. In 2012, the $2.5-billion rover that landed on Mars brought this issue to center focus once again. But the Space Program's research and advancements extend well beyond spaceflight into everyday life. Since the agency's creation in 1958, technologies originally developed for space missions have been adapted for commercial products and services on Earth.
Every year since the mid-1970s, NASA has published a list of space technologies that have been integrated into everyday items. The tangible benefits span from life-saving medical devices to protective eyewear. To date, NASA has documented nearly 1,800 "spinoff" technologies. Here's a short list.
· Artificial limbs
· Baby formula
· Cell-phone cameras
· Computer mouse
· Cordless tools
· Ear thermometer
· Firefighter gear
· Freeze-dried food
· Golf clubs
· Long-distance communication
· Invisible braces
· MRI and CAT scans
· Memory foam
· Safer highways
· Solar panels
· Shoe insoles
· Ski boots
· Adjustable smoke detector
· Water filters
· UV-blocking sunglasses
While it is exciting to see where the imagination of possibilities can take us, it is equally exciting to see some of the incredible discoveries for space exploration adapted for the individual living life the best they can with the challenges life has dealt them. It is also nice to see the adaptations that simply bring pleasure to our everyday lives. New discoveries and adaptations are just around the corner. Are our tax dollars really going to waste? It appears numerous medical advances can be contributed to space technologies.
NASA in Our Everyday Life
Human history is full of stories about the human spirit’s quest for exploration and deeper knowledge. People continue in that same spirit today. Only our search takes us to labs and space and new fields for research and creative endeavors. NASA has often been criticized for wasting taxpayer dollars. In 2012, the $2.5-billion rover that landed on Mars brought this issue to center focus once again. But the Space Program's research and advancements extend well beyond spaceflight into everyday life. Since the agency's creation in 1958, technologies originally developed for space missions have been adapted for commercial products and services on Earth.
Every year since the mid-1970s, NASA has published a list of space technologies that have been integrated into everyday items. The tangible benefits span from life-saving medical devices to protective eyewear. To date, NASA has documented nearly 1,800 "spinoff" technologies. Here's a short list.
· Artificial limbs
· Baby formula
· Cell-phone cameras
· Computer mouse
· Cordless tools
· Ear thermometer
· Firefighter gear
· Freeze-dried food
· Golf clubs
· Long-distance communication
· Invisible braces
· MRI and CAT scans
· Memory foam
· Safer highways
· Solar panels
· Shoe insoles
· Ski boots
· Adjustable smoke detector
· Water filters
· UV-blocking sunglasses
While it is exciting to see where the imagination of possibilities can take us, it is equally exciting to see some of the incredible discoveries for space exploration adapted for the individual living life the best they can with the challenges life has dealt them. It is also nice to see the adaptations that simply bring pleasure to our everyday lives. New discoveries and adaptations are just around the corner. Are our tax dollars really going to waste? It appears numerous medical advances can be contributed to space technologies.