homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Popular Products We Owe to NASA

The tech that brought humans to the moon also made its way into our homes.

Contributing Author
May 15, 2019 @ 12:51 pm

share Share

Credit: NASA.

Credit: NASA.

Much of NASA’s technology has made its way into the homes of citizens, improving day-to-day life. These sort of products have come to be known as NASA spinoffs.

One of the more widely technologies originally devised thanks to NASA is the digital image sensor. The invention of the image sensor has greatly advanced the digital imaging capabilities of smartphone cameras, digital cameras, and high-definition video equipment. These devices have created all sorts of secondary markets for auxiliary products such as sturdy phone cases, lenses, bags, and stabilizers. This explosion of image capture and image sharing over the last 25 years or so is owed almost entirely to the tech brought to us by NASA.

Memory foam was also derived from research performed by NASA. Originally called temper foam, memory foam is now commonly used as a component in mattresses. NASA researchers had set out to develop a product that would provide extra protection against the huge g-forces on takeoff and reentry and more comfortable seating for the jet airline industry.

The advanced technology of freeze-dried foods can also be attributed to NASA research. Scientists were faced with the challenge of supplying food for journeys in space. As the length of the mission began to increase, a new form of technology was needed to keep the food fresh for extended periods of time. Additionally, there were other concerns regarding nutrition for the astronauts and limited storage space in the aircraft. The technological advancements that explored the uses for freeze-dried foods have since been widely used in the food industry.

A hearing-impaired engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center was in some ways the impetus for cochlear implants. His research has made a marked advancement in the technology used in hearing aids. The Space Shuttle research program involved vigorous research into the study of electronic sound and vibration sensor systems. NASA developed an implant that utilizes electric impulses instead of sound amplification, which was previously used by hearing aid manufacturers.

The fabric used for Speedo swimsuits also came about as a spinoff from NASA. Experiments at the space agency’s Langley Research Center were largely responsible for the development of the fabric material used for the brand’s LZR full body racer swimwear. It was found that this type of material cut down on drag and increased the speed of a swimmer.

According to NASA, there are at least 2,000 spinoffs in existence. They have greatly impacted numerous industries in the private and public sectors. These include technological advances encompassing computers and computer software, environmental practices, agriculture, and the healthcare industry. NASA spinoffs are also widely used in the fields of public safety, recreational activities, and transportation.

NASA has an interactive website feature known as NASA @ Home and City. It contains a list of many of the everyday products and their origins that are NASA spinoffs.

share Share

A Simple Heat Hack Could Revolutionize How We Produce Yogurt

In principle, the method could be deployed tomorrow, researchers say.

Scientists Create a ‘Smart Sponge’ That Knows When to Heal and When to Fight Inflammation

This hydrogel could help millions of people lead a better life.

The Race to the Bottom: Japan Is Set to Start Testing Deep-Sea Mining

There's a big hidden cost to this practice.

Japan Just Smashed the Internet Speed World Record and It's Much Faster Than You Think

Researchers transmitted 127,500 GB every second — over the distance from Chicago to Dallas.

Can You Tell Which Knot Is Strongest? Most People Fail This Surprisingly Tough Challenge

Knots are a test of physical intuition and most of us are failing hard.

Scientists Call for a Global Pause on Creating “Mirror Life” Before It’s Too Late: “The threat we’re talking about is unprecedented”

Creating synthetic lifeforms is almost here, and the consequences could be devastating.

For the First Time Ever We Can See Planets Starting to Form Around a Star

JWST and ALMA peered through a natural opening in the star’s surrounding cloud to catch the action up close.

There might be an anti-aging secret hiding in magic mushrooms

Psilocybin extends cell life, and preserves aging DNA structures.

Not Just Hunters: Wooden Tools Unearth the Sophisticated, Plant-Eating World of Early Humans

What if the Stone Age wasn't really about stone?

This is How Exercise Supercharges the Immune System Against Cancer

Exercise reshapes gut bacteria to supercharge immune response against tumors.