Title: Beyond Tang: The Hidden Benefits of the Space Program
1Beyond Tang The Hidden Benefits of the Space
Program
- Dr. Nadine G. Barlow
- Dept. Physics and Astronomy
- Northern Arizona University
- Flagstaff, AZ
2Space Program Benefits
- US Space Program has been around since 1958
- Technology developed for space program has often
subsequently provided practical benefits to
society.
3NASA Spinoffs
4Health and Medical Spinoffs
5ICU Monitoring Systems
- Developed from systems used to monitor astronauts
during the space missions.
6Image Processing
- Image Processing technology now used in CAT scans
and MRI evolved from techniques originally
developed for analyzing lunar and planetary
images.
7Breast Cancer Detection
- BioScan System detects new cancer lesions by
looking for heat caused by increased blood flow. - Infrared imaging technology originally developed
for planetary and terrestrial observations.
8Other Medical Spinoffs
Molecular Modeling
CCD Imaging
Robotic Surgery
Telemedicine
9Transportation and Public Safety Spinoffs
10Highway Monitoring
- Monitoring of traffic at multiple intersections
and highways was developed from NASA Mission
Control technology.
11Grooved Highways and Runways
- NASA research showed that cutting thin grooves
across concrete runways reduces the risk of
hydroplaning. - These grooves improve aircraft tire friction
performance in wet conditions by 200-300.
12Global Positioning Satellite Technology
- Global satellites now provide very precise
positional information. - GPS units have dramatically improved search and
rescue operations. - Wide Area Augmentation System provides detailed
information on aircraft locations.
13Other Transportation Spinoffs
Composite Materials
Automatic Navigation Systems
Fuel Cell Technology
14Consumer Spinoffs
15Communications
- Communication satellites have revolutionized
long-distance telephone communications. - Much of the cell phone technology has been
derived from space program spinoffs.
16Scratch-Resistant Lenses
- Coatings developed by NASA for spacecraft have
been adapted to produce lenses which are 10x more
scatch-resistant than ordinary glass lenses.
17Product Coding
- NASA developed computer-read bar coding to keep
track of shuttle parts. - Now used to scan products at check-out counters.
18Other Consumer Spinoffs
Camera Chips
Chair Lifts
?
Fiber Optics
19Environmental and Resource Management
20Weather Satellites
- Weather satellites have dramatically improved
weather forecasts and severe weather predictions.
21Volcano and Wildfire Monitoring
22Resource Monitoring
- Remote sensing technology developed for analysis
of planetary images has improved agricultural
production. - Similar technology can be used for natural
resource management and disaster analysis.
23Other Environmental Spinoffs
Digital Maps
Ocean Studies
Ozone Hole and Climate Studies
24Computer Technology
25Miniaturization
- Much of the technology which has led to smaller
computers was derived from NASAs need to reduce
weight on space missions.
26Data Analysis Tools
- The need to sort through huge amounts of data
from space missions has led to data analysis
tools useful in many everyday applications.
27Automatic Detection Techniques
- Technology to develop rovers with autonomous
hazard detection capability is being used in
robots to explore hazardous environments on Earth.
28Scientific Knowledge
29Greenhouse Effect
- The extreme greenhouse effect identified on Venus
in the 1960s led to more research into global
warming on Earth.
30Climate Change
- Mars is now believed to have once been much more
Earth-like, with lakes and possibly oceans of
liquid water. - What happened to Mars to make it the cold, dry
world we see today? - Could something similar happen to Earth?
31Sun-Earth Connections
- SOHO and other Sun-observing spacecraft help us
determine when flares and coronal mass ejections
might affect Earth and our orbiting spacecraft.
32Search for Life
- Consideration of possible habitats conducive to
life elsewhere in the solar system and universe
has led to discovery of life in extreme
terrestrial environments.
33Education
- Kids love space!
- Space-themed activities help to inspire many
students to study math and science.
34For More On NASA Spinoffs
- Go to Spinoffs page
- http//www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/