1. NASA INNOVATION Unexpected Benefits By Stephen Walther

2. Did Americans ever imagine when John F Kennedy presented his 1962 speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas in support of NASA all of the unexpected benefits that would arise from the space program? We weren’t even alive and it still benefits us today. There are too many for me to cover in this report. Let’s focus on the Water Purification System.

3. The Microbial Check Valve was one of the water purification systems that went into space and separated the bad pollution and bacteria from the water. Since it was cheap and easy to make it started to become a product anyone could buy.

4. How it works The technology releases copper and silver ions into the water that kills the bacteria and algae in the polluted water which is then filtered out. This system does not use chlorine and is not a health risk.

5. Who uses it? The purification system was originally made NASA for the early manned Apollo space missions. NASA continues to improve drinking water for the space shuttle and the space station.

6. Because of its success the purification system has been used world wide mainly in large rural areas and developing countries. This is a good alternative solution to chemicals that cost a lot of money. It is also used in Commercial and Industrial ways.

7. Why is this important? This purification system is extremely important to our health. Without clean water we wouldn’t be able to be as healthy as we are right now. The water purification system has helped our life out a lot and it will only keep on growing and improving.