Spinoffs
It might be hard to believe that sending people and robotic probes into outer space could change our daily lives. But space exploration has led to a wide range of practical benefits right here on Earth.
Many of these benefits involve new technologies. For example, materials created in the 1970s for astronauts' space suits are now used to protect firefighters.
Another example involves the tiny electrical circuits used in the space shuttle's robotic arm. Today, similar circuits are used in devices that help people recover from muscle injuries.
Space exploration has also led to better telephone, radio, television, and navigation devices.
Human space flights can change the way we think and feel, too. For example, NASA studied ways to help astronauts stay calm during long, stressful missions.
Today, special video games help people fight stress. The games promote deep breathing and muscle relaxation.
In the future, robotic missions to Mars could lead to benefits back on Earth. Some of these missions will study ways to draw oxygen out of the Martian atmosphere.
People will need oxygen to breathe during future human missions on Mars. Hospitals on Earth could benefit from new ways to provide pure oxygen to patients who need it.
Let's take a quick look at a few other recent benefits from space exploration.
Gold Coating
Many satellites carry gold-coated sheets to protect them from the sun's heat. The visor on an astronaut's helmet is coated with a thin layer of gold. The gold protects the astronaut from the sun's dangerous radiation.
Today, gold coating is used on a number of products on Earth, too. Mirrors, lamps, and ear thermometers are just a few examples. Gold is important because it reflects light and other radiation.
Invisible Flame Imaging
Hydrogen is a key part of rocket fuel. When hydrogen burns in daylight, the flames are often invisible. NASA engineers developed a device that could "see" those invisible flames during rocket-engine testing. The device is called an electronic flame imager, and it can see through smoke.
Today, firefighters use flame imagers to help them see invisible flames in hydrogen and alcohol fires. The devices also help guide firefighters through dense smoke.
Ergonomic Chairs
Astronauts aboard the Skylab space station noticed that their posture was different in outer space. Their bodies took on a more relaxed, natural posture. The difference was due to the weightlessness of space.
This discovery led to the development of chairs that ease the effects of gravity on workers on Earth. Many companies now provide these chairs for their workers.
Ergonomics is the study of the relationship between people and their working environments.
Toy Gliders
NASA engineers have spent years studying airplane and glider design. They know the best place to put wings on a glider. And they know about the science of flight.
A toy company put all this knowledge to use when it was designing new toy gliders. The company's original glider design didn't fly very well. After discussions with NASA, the company developed several successful toy gliders.
Thermal Clothing
In outer space, temperatures can be extremely cold. Clothing makers had to design glove liners that would keep astronauts' hands warm during spacewalks. They developed special insulating fabrics that reduced heat loss.
Now those fabrics are used in ski gloves and other winter-sports clothing.
Sporting Goods Lubricants
Every so often, most vehicles need a lube job to keep them moving smoothly. And the giant launch platform that moves the space shuttle is no different. In 1994, a Florida company created a lubricant that would do the job and not hurt the environment.
Using what it learned, the company now also makes lubricants to protect fishing gear from rust and corrosion.
Refrigeration Cases
Temperatures in space go from extremely cold to extremely hot. NASA had to develop ways to stop spacecraft from freezing or frying.
Now you can see the space program at work when you visit a supermarket. Spacecraft cooling technology is used in some refrigeration cases. These cases display items like yogurt, juices, and dairy products.
Safeguarding Porpoises
In the 1960s, NASA needed a way to locate space payloads after splashdown. So engineers built a beacon device that made a "ping" sound underwater.
Today, fishing crews use a similar device to warn porpoises to stay away from their nets. As a result, fewer porpoises become tangled in the nets and die.
Tire Recycling
Through its work with rocket fuels, NASA has become an expert at handling super-cold fluids. A Louisiana company has put that knowledge to work in recycling old rubber tires.
The company freezes the tires in liquid nitrogen. This process separates a tire's fibres and steel belts from its rubber. The remaining rubber--now called "crumb"--can be used in road building. It can also be turned into new tires, hoses, and mats.
Miniature Heat Pipes
In space, temperatures often change from extremely cold to extremely hot. To control the temperature aboard spacecraft, NASA used heat pipes. A special liquid circulates through the pipes and absorbs heat. This heat is then released into space.
Today, notebook computers use a similar system. Tiny heat pipes are used to cool the computer's processor chip.