Space Spinoffs: Inventions That We Use Every Day

NASA is widely regarded as the world's preeminent organization for researching aeronautics and aerospace and since it was founded in 1958, the agency, which the United States government controls, has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies and has been responsible for some rather astounding discoveries and advancements.

Even though some people believe NASA is frittering away money from taxpayers on recent high-profile projects, the agency's efforts have had a significant influence on our day-to-day lives. A small number of its initial ideas about space missions have been modified so that they may be used in commercial products or services that benefit people on Earth.

CMOS Active Pixel Sensors

The development of modern digital cameras can be traced back to work done by NASA and JPL, namely by engineer Eric Fossum. These cameras may either be used independently or integrated into mobile phones. Because of his revolutionary work, NASA missions to other planets and other NASA initiatives needed the shrinking of cameras.

Engineer Working for NASA With Super-Soaker

Dr. Lonnie Johnson, a NASA engineer, created the idea for the ubiquitous "Super Soaker," even though it is not strictly a NASA spin-off. While he was playing with several refrigeration systems in his bathroom, the idea came to him. After the prototype of his invention was created, he approached several businesses to sell it to them. It was in 1989 that the Larami Toy Company agreed to finance his endeavor.

After numerous revisions, it was finally released to the public in 1990 under the brand name "Power Drencher." In 1991, the original name was renamed "Super Soaker."

Magnetic Fluid Speakers

NASA was tasked in the 1960s with finding a solution to the challenge of transporting liquid fuel without the aid of gravity. They used microscopic iron oxide particles to magnetize the liquid and magnetic fields to move the magnetized fluid about.

Following various applications quite close to it in the 1980s, the technology was eventually employed in 2012. Ferrofluid technology was included in their speaker systems after being developed in-house through research conducted by the company.

Because of this, a commercial line of slim speakers was developed, which, according to the manufacturer, delivers a louder and cleaner sound than other speakers of equivalent size.

Dustbuster

NASA initially created this "Dustbuster" as a component of the Apollo Space Mission. The objective was to design a sample-extracting drill that was compact, easily transportable, and self-sufficient and that could collect samples from extraterrestrial surfaces like those found on the Moon.

Black and Decker played a vital role in the development of technology. This effort was the impetus for creating a wide variety of compact handheld power tools, one of which was the Dustbuster, which was introduced in 1979.

Spare Space Shuttle Fuel For Landmine Removal Devices

It has been discovered that Space Shuttle Rocket Fuel is an excellent tool for cleaning the globe of one of the numerous remnants left behind by horrific conflicts. In the late 1990s, unused Shuttle Fuel was converted into flares, which were then used to detonate land mines where they were buried, negating the need for explosives.

Thiokol Propulsion was instrumental in the design and development of these flares. The gadgets penetrate the mines' protective casings and detonate the explosives within them.

Development of an Efficient Osteoporosis Treatment

The research conducted by NASA on the International Space Station on rodents subjected to zero gravity led to the creation of novel medications that are used to treat bone loss on Earth.

The observable adverse effects on astronauts' health caused by spending extended periods in conditions with low or zero gravity served as the impetus for this investigation, particularly the loss of bone density and muscle mass.

Amgen's sclerostin antibody treatment for osteoporosis, which was in the process of being developed at the time, was subsequently verified on Space Shuttle and Space Station missions. They demonstrated a significant slowing down and eventually stopping bone loss in mice.

The Spin-Off is Air Purifiers

NASA initially created ethylene scrubbers to prevent the need for using filters to extend the time plants could grow in space. After some time, a business decision to improve it further so that it could be used to safeguard perishable commodities from being stolen by eliminating waste gasses. In addition to removing airborne particles, infections, organic compounds, and molds, air purifiers offered another advantageous effect.

Spin-offs Are Baby Formula

An experiment conducted as part of NASA's CELSS (Closed Environment Life Support System) program resulted in the development of baby formula. This was done to test whether or not algae might be utilized as a recycling agent for extended periods spent in space.

A healthy addition to an infant's diet, formula is thought to promote healthy mental and visual development in infants and is also regarded as a beneficial nutritional supplement. This includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid, which are necessary polyunsaturated fatty acids (ARA).

NASA's Unexpected Contribution to the Field of Food Safety

During the 1960s, NASA and the Pillsbury Company worked together to devise a strategy for assuring that any food transported into space was devoid of pathogens. After discovering that the modern testing methods of the time resulted in the total consumption of the food product, the company developed a methodology that involved point testing at various stages of the manufacturing process.

Following the conclusion of development with NASA, Pillsbury was forced to issue a recall for one of its products, Farina. HACCP is a procedure that should be used by the firm, as stated by an employee who worked in the process with NASA.

Conclusion

Many companies use NASA spin-off technology applications that help to improve manufacturing processes, purify of polluted soil, help predict weather forecasting, and even the clean the air to slow the spread of viruses.