1. Beyond Tang: The Hidden Benefits of the Space Program
Dr. Nadine G. Barlow
Dept. Physics and Astronomy
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

2. Space Program Benefits
US Space Program has been around since 1958
Technology developed for space program has often subsequently provided practical benefits to society.

3. NASA Spinoffs

4. Health and Medical Spinoffs

5. ICU Monitoring Systems
Developed from systems used to monitor astronauts during the space missions.

6. Image Processing
Image Processing technology now used in CAT scans and MRI evolved from techniques originally developed for analyzing lunar and planetary images.

7. Breast Cancer Detection
BioScan System detects new cancer lesions by looking for heat caused by increased blood flow.
Infrared imaging technology originally developed for planetary and terrestrial observations.

8. Other Medical Spinoffs
Molecular
Modeling
CCD Imaging
Robotic
Surgery
Telemedicine

9. Transportation and Public Safety Spinoffs

10. Highway Monitoring
Monitoring of traffic at multiple intersections and highways was developed from NASA Mission Control technology.

11. Grooved Highways and Runways
NASA research showed that cutting thin grooves across concrete runways reduces the risk of hydroplaning.
These grooves improve aircraft tire friction performance in wet conditions by %.

12. Global Positioning Satellite Technology
Global satellites now provide very precise positional information.
GPS units have dramatically improved search and rescue operations.
Wide Area Augmentation System provides detailed information on aircraft locations.

13. Other Transportation Spinoffs
Composite Materials
Automatic Navigation Systems
Fuel Cell Technology

14. Consumer Spinoffs

15. Communications
Communication satellites have revolutionized long-distance telephone communications.
Much of the cell phone technology has been derived from space program spinoffs.

16. Scratch-Resistant Lenses
Coatings developed by NASA for spacecraft have been adapted to produce lenses which are 10x more scatch-resistant than ordinary glass lenses.

17. Product Coding
NASA developed computer-read bar coding to keep track of shuttle parts.
Now used to “scan” products at check-out counters.

18. Other Consumer Spinoffs
Camera Chips
Chair Lifts 
Fiber
Optics

19. Environmental and Resource Management

20. Weather Satellites
Weather satellites have dramatically improved weather forecasts and severe weather predictions.

21. Volcano and Wildfire Monitoring

22. Resource Monitoring
Remote sensing technology developed for analysis of planetary images has improved agricultural production.
Similar technology can be used for natural resource management and disaster analysis.

23. Other Environmental Spinoffs
Digital Maps
Ocean Studies
Ozone Hole and Climate Studies

24. Computer Technology

25. Miniaturization
Much of the technology which has led to smaller computers was derived from NASA’s need to reduce weight on space missions.

26. Data Analysis Tools
The need to sort through huge amounts of data from space missions has led to data analysis tools useful in many everyday applications.

27. Automatic Detection Techniques
Technology to develop rovers with autonomous hazard detection capability is being used in robots to explore hazardous environments on Earth.

28. Scientific Knowledge

29. Greenhouse Effect
The extreme greenhouse effect identified on Venus in the 1960’s led to more research into global warming on Earth.

30. Climate Change
Mars is now believed to have once been much more Earth-like, with lakes and possibly oceans of liquid water.
What happened to Mars to make it the cold, dry world we see today?
Could something similar happen to Earth?

31. Sun-Earth Connections
SOHO and other Sun-observing spacecraft help us determine when flares and coronal mass ejections might affect Earth and our orbiting spacecraft.

32. Search for Life
Consideration of possible habitats conducive to life elsewhere in the solar system and universe has led to discovery of life in extreme terrestrial environments.

33. Education Kids love space!
Space-themed activities help to inspire many students to study math and science.

34. For More On NASA Spinoffs
Go to Spinoffs page: