A lot of people like to say that NASA’s $22.6 billion dollar budget, making up less
than half a percent of the federal budget, is a giant waste of resources.
Afterall, instead of NASA we could have a whole 11 more B-2 stealth bombers…
Well, to all the haters, here are 13 everyday inventions we only have as a direct result
of space exploration.
If you wear glasses, are you glad that every time you drop them, they’re not instantly
covered in scratches?
Well, if so, you have NASA to thank for those scratch-resistant lenses.
The technology behind these lenses was originally developed by NASA for scratch-resistant astronaut
helmets.
Later, the agency would license the technology out to the Foster-Grant Corporation.
From there, they continued experimenting with scratch-resistant plastics which today are
in most sunglasses and prescription lenses.
Sticking with things that help you see.
The technology that allows for lasik, you know, the thing where they shoot a laser at
your cornea was first developed to track astronauts' eyes during extended periods in space in order
to assess how humans' frames of reference were affected by weightlessness.
This would later become the technology that tracks a patient's eye position throughout
the surgery.
Up next, if you live in earthquake prone regions are you glad that your office building hasn’t
come tumbling down?
Well you’ve got NASA to thank for that.
During a rocket launch, there can be a lot of turbulence and vibrations that could potentially
break the rocket or the delicate satellites they carry.
To combat this, in the 80’s, NASA developed shock absorbers designed to protect equipment
during the space shuttle launches.
Today, this same technology is in bridges and buildings in earthquake prone regions
across the country.
If you like renewable energy, you're sure to like what comes next.
Because it’s a little hard to plug the ISS into an electrical socket when it needs to
charge, NASA relies on solar power for the majority of their missions.
As part of the need to power their space missions, NASA has invented, and consistently improved,
new photovoltaic cells, and shared these advancements with private companies to accelerate the commercial
technology.
Up next, do you ever wonder what astronauts drink when they’re floating around in space.
The average person needs about 3.5 liters of water a day.
Back when the space shuttles were taking off from Cape Canaveral, it cost $50,000 to get
a single kilogram to space.
This meant if the astronauts brought all the water they needed with them a typical crew
of 6 astronauts would need more than $1 million dollars in water EVERY DAY.
Luckily for NASA’s accountants, their R&D teams figured out how to effectively recycle
waste water using iodine and cartridge filters, ensuring that astronauts had access to safe,
tasteless water.
Today, the ISS recycles 90 percent of its water—or more than 1,000 gallons a year.
Back here on earth, this filtering technology has become standard in hundreds of waste treatment
facilities and commercial projects.
Now let me switch things up and pose a challenging question.
The space shuttle comes in to land at more than 200 miles per hour, 30% faster than modern
commercial airliners, and even faster than the concorde.
The runway is only 300 feet or 91 m wide leaving only about 60 feet 18 m of clearance on both
sides.
At such high speeds, if the shuttle turns by only a few tenths of a degree, it could
go hurtling off the runway in a matter of seconds.
Add to this factors like landing in the rain or a crosswind and how do you keep it pointing
straight down the runway?
Well, after NASA scientists conducted extensive research on ways to minimize hydroplaning
(when vehicles slide uncontrollably on a wet surface) they discovered that by cutting grooves
into the runway they could significantly increase traction and channel water away from the landing
zone, thus significantly reducing the risk of accidents.
Today, many highways and airports have adopted this technology and it’s saved thousands
of lives.
But these are all things that indirectly improve your life, so what about the things that really
have a direct impact on your day to day life.
Well, today, run of the mill tires should last about 70,000 miles, and you have NASA
to thank for that.
After the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (using NASA research money) invented the material
used in NASA's Viking Lander parachute shrouds, the company began using it in their tires.
The material is stronger than steel and adds thousands of miles to the life of tires.
And while we’re on the subject of things in your everyday life, NASA research helped
to invent the camera in your smartphone.
In the 1990s, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory invented a light, miniature imaging system
that required little energy in order to take high quality photographs from space.
This technology would later become the starting point for modern cell phone and computer cameras.
And if you ever walk into a hospital, rest assured that NASA’s contributed there too.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed digital image processing technology to enhance
pictures from the moon landing and get them in higher definition.
This would become part of the underlying technology that makes CAT scans and MRIs possible.
Even right after birth, NASA has your back.
Today, more than 80% of American infants are fed baby formula.
Back when NASA scientists were searching for a recycling agent to use during long space
missions, they discovered a nutritious, algae based vegetable oil that is now used as an
additive in more than 90% of infant formulas.
If you're a bit older than an infant you might remember how uncomfortable mattresses used
to be.
If so, you owe your restful nights to NASA researchers.
The memory foam technology in millions of beds across the country was originally invented
as a pad for astronaut seats that would mold to their bodies during the high g-forces of
takeoff and landing, then return to a neutral state.
This eliminated the need to customize seats to individual astronauts' body sizes.
And when NASA scientists were tasked with developing insulation for the Apollo spacesuits
that could hold up against the frigid vacuum of space, they developed new insulating materials
that are widely used in home and commercial construction today.
Last up, in the 80’s, it was much more common for planes to crash because of a buildup of
ice along vital control surfaces.
And ice was a real threat to the space shuttles too.
NASA funding led to the development of a thermoelectric deicing system called Thermawing, that could
heat the wings of the space shuttle to avoid icing problems and it would later become widely
used in commercial aviation.
Well, hopefully you learned some new ways NASA’s funding has helped us back here on
Earth, and plus now you have a great video to send to people if you ever hear them saying
NASA is a waste of money.
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As always, have a great day, and remember, there is always more to learn.