What has NASA and the space program contributed to our daily lives over the last 40 years?

Answer 1

NASA used Velcro and Tang, but they were not developed for NASA.

One of the biggest problems that NASA has is the inability to clearly state that many and invaluable contributions to the world that come either directly from NASA or are developed from NASA research, engineers and technology.

NASA holds thousands of patents and as a federal institution anyone can license and develop products based on these technologies. Hundreds of companies have done so.

In addition to providing many high level career opportunities, generating tourism dollars for local communities with NASA facilities, many of the things that we use in everyday life were developed directly for a NASA mission.

Portable and cordless drills and other tools were created and used for the Apollo Mission. Mylar which is used in insulating blankets was also developed by NASA.

A new kind of rescue tool - Life Shears - is being used by EMS and fire departments for getting people out of wrecked vehicles was developed initially for the Space Shuttle program.

The idea of grooved highways for better traction in wet weather was used by NASA in runways,

The switches that activate air bags in cars were developed by NASA engineers.

Weather Satellites are essential technology with the increased threat of hurricanes.

NASA imagery are used by many companies to develop and sell, books, calendars t-shirts, providing additional jobs and tax collections

One of the most forgotten parts of NASA is that it also responsible for Aeronautics as well as space. As a result NASA is always investigating and studying ways to make flying more efficient and safer.

For some more information:

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/technologies/spinoffs.html

Answer 2

There are always all the technology spinoffs. Probably the chief one to my mind is the lighter fiber-wrapped oxygen tank that a firefighter carries, which was a result of techniques used to make lighter spacecraft tanks.

By the way: Teflon, Tang and Velcro were NOT NASA spinoffs. (Nor was the Fisher Space Pen, for which urban legend claims NASA spent millions to develop, when a simple pencil would do.)

But I think spinoffs are beside the point. The space program is about exploring beyond Earth. In that sense, NASA has contributed "vision" to our daily lives.

Answer 3

~Velcro is a by-product of the space program, but NASA hasn't contributed anything to me. There are a multitude of technologies and products developed for, or as off-shoots of, the space program, but you have to buy all of the products or items made based on space-tech.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Accurate prediction of major storms and hurricanes from satellite data.

Navigation has improved because of satellite signal which make Global Positioning possible.

If it weren't for Republicans controling technology, we would also have alternate fuels like those developed for the space program.

Answer 6

On the simplest of levels, the space program has encouraged leaps in communications and medical/health monitoring technology. Vast improvements in satellites, satellite tracking, lasers, and telemetry have resulted, along with expanding man's knowledge of the universe around him.

Answer 7

Teflon, velcro, microchips, transistors, satellite tv, GPS, Titanium alloys, cell phones, digital processors,DVD's, CDs, LCD screens, Plasma screens, Improved electronic performance, smaller electronic componants, hybrid fuels, hybrid seeds for more production of food in smaller land areas, topographical mapping of the earth. There's a huge benefit.

Answer 8

A lot of the inventions which we use today form computers, cars, planes etc. were necessiated or improved due to the space program.

Answer 9

Sattelite TV

Answer 10

some days, it will contribute some space for human to live in some planet... more over i think it is a thrilling business.