1. Spin Off Technologies Prepared by: Alyssa Gilbert
Updated by: Parshati Patel
Hello everyone our names are… and we are studying …
Today we’re going to tell you about some of the most important, and direct, benefits that come from the space program: spin-off technologies!
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2. What is a spin-off?
A technology originally developed for the space program that is
now used commercially or by the public.
Spinoffs have occurred in every sector
Information Technology
Consumer Goods
Environmental Resources
Health and Medicine
Industrial Productivity
Public Safety
Transportation
Ask students: So, what is a spin-off, anyway?
The definition of a spin-off is any technology that is originally developed for the space program that is now used commercially or by the public. NASA has just about 1,800 spin-offs and they range from Health & Medicine, to Public Safety….(read the balloons). **students can write this definition on their worksheet**
Ask students: Do you know of any technology, goods, or services, that are spin-offs from the space program?
(Will probably hear answers such as velcro, tang, GPS, etc. --- don’t say if they’re right or wrong yet)
Activity: Get students to guess which items listed in question #2 on the worksheet are spinoffs. Then, asking them to vote as you go along, you can give them the correct answers.
Image credit:

3. Spin-Off Myths Spin-Off Myths Cordless Tools MRI Technology
First, let’s start off with what isn’t a spin-off. There are some misconceptions about what actually is a spin-off technology. Some technologies were made famous by the space program, but they weren’t actually developed for or by the space program.
MRI technology was not developed by NASA, but some NASA technology has been incorporated into MRI techniques. As part of the pre-Apollo program, JPL developed digital image processing to allow computers to enhance Moon photos. This technology is widely used by the medical community, specifically with CATScans (CT) and MRI.
Cordless power tools were not invented by NASA. They were actually developed by Black & Decker in However, NASA partnered with Black & Decker to develop zero-impact tools that could be used in space so the astronauts wouldn’t spin around while using them. As a result, Black & Decker actually developed several spin-offs, such as cordless lightweight battery powered medical instruments and the Dustbuster.

4. Spin-Off Myths Spin-Off Myths Tang
Tang: In 1962, Astronaut John Glenn made Tang famous by drinking it as part of some eating experiments they were conducting in space. It was actually developed a few years earlier, in 1957, by General Foods.

5. Spin-Off Myths Spin-Off Myths Velcro
Velcro: This is actually a Swiss invention from the 1940s, but it was made famous because it was used during the Apollo missions to anchor equipment.
This photo shows a pattern of velcro and snaps on Buzz Aldrin’s suit.

6. NASA Spin-Offs
Now that we know what isn’t a spin-off, let’s take a look at a few examples of some actual spin-offs.

7. Health & Medicine Save lives Increase hospital efficiency Relieve pain
Speed rehabilitation
Sharpen diagnostic imaging
Advance medical research
Improve nutrition
Top: ‘Anti-Gravity’ Treadmills help speed up rehabilitation
Lack of gravity can cause bone and muscle loss for astronauts in space. NASA research scientist Robert Whalen applied air pressure to add force to an astronaut’s body for treadmill exercise in space. On earth, this lead to an enclosed treadmill that uses air pressure to help patients feel up to 80-percent lighter, easing discomfort during rehabilitation. A patient desiring more weightlessness during a workout can simply press a button and the air pressure increases, lifting the body and reducing strain and impact. Applications include physical therapy for brain injury, neurological disorders, athletic injuries, or other stresses on the joints-
Bottom: MicroMed DeBakey VAD Heart Pump
Created using NASA knowledge of fluid flow through rocket engines. Lifesaving heart pump for patients awaiting heart transplants functions as a "bridge to heart transplant" by pumping blood throughout the body to keep critically ill patients alive until a donor heart is available. -

8. Transportation Increase airport efficiency Save fuel
Reduce noise pollution
Improve safety and limit
accidents
Enable new vehicles
Top: Comprehensive Software Eases Aircraft Traffic Management
To help air traffic control centers improve safety and efficiency, Ames developed the Future Air Traffic Management Concepts Evaluation Tool (FACET) software. FACET models aircraft trajectories and other factors to help controllers manage crowded skies. The software is in use around the globe, providing essential air traffic information and even weather conditions -
Bottom: Winglets Save Billions of Dollars in Fuel Costs
Research and testing by Langley engineer Richard Whitcomb demonstrated the effectiveness of winglets in reducing performance-inhibiting drag. Further flight tests conducted at Dryden validated Whitcomb’s findings. APB estimates the technology saved more than 2 billion gallons of jet fuel as of 2010, reducing costs by $4 billion and carbon dioxide emissions by 21.5 million tons -

9. Public Safety Saves lives Protect soldiers and first responders
Support emergency communications
Detect biological contamination
Alert officials to imminent threats
Top: Polymer Fabric Protects Firefighters, Military, Civilians
NASA has explored many ways of protecting astronauts from extreme temperatures in space. NASA researcher Carl Marvel synthesized Polybenzimidazole (PBI) for aerospace and defense applications as a non-flammable, thermally stable textile fiber. PBI fabrics have become prominent in firefighting, emergency response, motor sports, military, industry, and aerospace -
Bottom: Inflatable Antennas Support Emergency Communication
NASA launched the first of its inflatable space structures in the form of large, metalized balloons—the Echo satellites, in New interest was spurred with the successful deployment of the Inflatable Antenna Experiment during STS-77 in GATR provided communications after Hurricane Katrina, wildfires in California, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake -

10. Consumer Goods Educate and entertain Save money
Improve safety and performance
in sports
Advance materials for product
development
Top: TMIO Programmable Oven
They inventor (David Mansbery) partnered with NASA and was given access to their Embedded Web Technology software, which was invented in 1996 and is used to control remote devices over the internet (i.e. astronauts can preform experiments on the ISS from anywhere in the station). With combined cooling and heating capabilities, TMIO's ConnectIo stainless-steel professional series oven provides convenience for today's active lifestyles
Bottom: Image Sensors Enhance Camera Technologies
JPL researchers explored ways to significantly miniaturize cameras on interplanetary spacecraft while maintaining scientific image quality. A team led by Eric Fossum developed an energy-efficient light sensor with all of its components integrated on a single chip. The NASA-derived sensors are now incorporated into digital cameras, automotive and surveillance cameras, and medical imaging devices. One of every three cell phone cameras worldwide features Aptina’s sensors -

11. Environmental Resources
Reduce and remediate pollution
Aid scientists in tracking rare animals
Generate clean energy
Expand knowledge of climate change
Purify water
Improve agricultural practices
Top: Wind Turbine Model
Dr. Larry Viterna’s wind turbine model was created out of NASA’s goal to harness wind energy and transfer it to private industry, and now it is the most widely used method of its kind.
Bottom: Solutions Remediate Contaminated Groundwater
During the Apollo Program, NASA workers used chlorinated solvents to clean rocket engine components at launch sites. These solvents, known as dense non-aqueous phase liquids, had contaminated launch facilities to the point of near-irreparability. A technology was developed capable of remediating the area without great cost or further environmental damage. They called the new invention Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI). The groundwater remediation compound is cleaning up polluted areas all around the world and is, to date, NASA's most licensed technology. The technology has won multiple honors and a place in the Space Technology Hall of Fame

12. Information Technology
Speed processing
Simplify scheduling
Secure information
Enhance satellite imaging and
communications
Enable high-performance hardware
Top: Mars Mapping Technology Brings Main Street to Life
Berkeley, California-based earthmine inc., licensed 3-D data-generation software and algorithms from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory originally used to create a 3-D representation of the local terrain to allow autonomous routing of the Mars Exploration Rovers. earthmine combined the software and algorithms with its unique capture hardware and Web delivery technology in a system that integrates the information to deliver accurate street-level geospatial data through a Web-based interface. Complete municipalities are collected through high-quality, 3-D panoramic images-including every road, alley, and freeway-to create a complete, consistent, and publicly accessible geospatial view of cities for official and commercial applications.
Bottom: Verification Tools Secure Online Shopping, Banking
Space operations require robust, fail-resistant programming to ensure the safe, effective execution of mission-critical control systems
NASA developed a powerful verification toolkit called Java Pathfinder (JPF) for software written in the popular Java programming language
The enhanced technology unearths software bugs not found with existing technologies
The software helps ensure operation and security of Web-based Java programs like banking applications and shopping carts
- Fujitsu open-sourced its string input extension for NASA and others to continue development

13. Industrial Productivity
Save time and money
Advance design and fabrication
Automate processes
Introduce new materials
Streamline manufacturing techniques
Top: Robot Control SoftwareAt Johnson Space Center, engineers explore the potential applications of dexterous robots capable of performing tasks like those of an astronaut during extravehicular activities—and even additional ones too delicate or dangerous for human participation. They sought generic control methods that could work effectively across every system. Through a partnership with Energid, unique robot control and simulation software was created, providing user-friendly, optimized design and control of innovative robots used for military, agriculture, health care, and industrial applications.
Bottom: Tensile Fabrics Enhance Architecture Around the World
Using a remarkable fabric originally developed to protect Apollo astronauts, Birdair Inc., of Amherst, New York, has crafted highly durable, safe, environmentally friendly, and architecturally stunning tensile membrane roofs for over 900 landmark structures around the world. Birdair’s roofing covers major transportation hubs, sports facilities, and convention centers, including the Georgia Dome, Denver airport, and the Dallas Cowboys Stadium

14. Importance of Spin-Offs
Educated and Entertained
Enhanced Safety
Saved Lives
Increased Efficiency
Made the Planet Cleaner
Created New Markets
Improved Economic Competitiveness
Created Jobs
Spinoff images from L to R:
Ecliptic RocketCam Video System (cool video footage),
Turtleskin Body Armor (vest made with fabric designed for Pathfinder airbags),
Givens Buoy Life Raft (designed based on rafts used in Apollo splashdown landings),
Micro-Bac Remediation Bacteria Solution (phototrophic cell for water purification in space and now on farms),
Global Hawk UAV, with Composite Airframe Manufactured by Aurora Flight Systems Inc. (lightweight aircraft technologies used for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)),
Image credit:

15. To learn more about how space exploration has impacted daily life, explore NASA @ Home and City
NASA has a wonderful, interactive, program on their website, where you can learn more about spin-off technologies.
(If you have a web connection, click on the link and give a short preview).

16. To keep up-to-date on new and exciting
NASA spinoffs

17. Thank you! Questions? @westernuCPSX cpsx.uwo.ca/outreach
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