What are some everyday things that NASA has invented?

Answer 1

NASA has issued over 6,300 patents in its history, about 1 in a 1,000 of all patents issued by the U.S. Patent Office since its creation in 1790. Some examples of direct spinoff technology from NASA programs are:

1. Lithium Ion Batteries - Li Ion battery technology was further funded by NASA's Goddard Space Center for the HST/ISS Pistol Grip Tool, used to service the Hubble and construct the International Space Station. Though the design is based on a standard cordless drill (Black & Decker was initially approached for a design, but declined) the power pack is a series of Li Ion cells. The PGT was one key program I was responsible for, and it was initially used in 1997 on the HST 2nd Servicing Mission. Though they still have the same problems we had back then (they tend to overheat occasionally in certain situations) they're still the rechargeable power cell of choice for the masses, and it's only been in the past couple of years that BD/DeWalt and other companies have started using them in their tools.

2. Solid State Drives / Flash Drives - SSD's and Flash Drives are a direct result of a Hubble Telescope replacement unit called the Solid State Recorder. Replacing 2 mechanical reel-reel tape drives on HST Servicing Missions 2 and 3A, SSR technology has literally changed the way digital data is stored, eliminating the need for mechanical drives.

3. Medical Scanning Technology - Much of the enhanced medical scanning technology you're familiar with (CRT's, MRI's, etc.) are directly related to Hubble Telescope imaging technology.

4. Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD's) - A direct result of Hubble Telescope imaging technology, CCD's are the electronic imaging core of every modern digital camera in use today, digital imaging devices used in medical and industrial applications, as well as satellite imaging.

5. Scratch-Resistant / UV Lenses - If you've ever worn eyeglasses or bought a pair of sunglasses with scratch-resistant coating, or sunglasses with UV protection, they're a direct spinoff of technology developed for the Astronauts' sun shield on their helmets.

6. Computer Microprocessors / Software - Bill Gates and Intel didn't invent operating systems and computers - they just used existing technology from the Space Program for their benefit, and the rest of the us.

7. Tempurpedic Mattresses/Pillows - Tempurpedic material (the brand is the only licensed NASA technology - all others are similar but not as effective) is a direct result of material developed for Astronaut crew chairs aboard the Space Shuttle.

8. Composite Materials - There are many carbon and metal composite materials that were originally developed for NASA programs. All spacecraft are manufactured with lightweight composites, and the various materials have improved over the years. Everything from cars to planes have benefited from the technology.

9. Microlasers - A spinoff of Optical Data Transfer technology developed for long-range communication in space.

10. Infrared Technology - Everything from infrared thermometers to IR cameras owes its development to technology developed for astronomical research.

NASA is also responsible for Research and Development of military aerospace programs, and much technology developed from those programs finds its way into various forms of public use.

In addition to the basic technological benefits to society, products derived from the Space Program are generally smaller and more rugged, since weight and durability are paramount when designing and developing systems for use in Earth orbital environments (cold and hot), and the extreme cold of deep space.

The list goes on - there are literally thousands of technology spinoffs that are improving the lives of the average person, though few realize that it comes from NASA sponsored technology. The old saying that "Necessity is the Mother of all Invention" holds true in this case - without the desire for exploring the unknown, we would have no reason to develop technologies to further help us find answers, and as a result would be stagnant as far as technology goes.

There are some pics on my Supervisor bio page of the PGT and other HST systems, and the link below will direct you to the NASA Spinoff/Innovative Partnerships Program site.

Answer 2

Some everyday things that NASA has invented include memory foam (originally developed for aircraft seat cushions), scratch-resistant lenses (for space helmet visors), and water filters (used in space shuttles to recycle water). These innovations have since found applications in various consumer products used on Earth.