Many of the tools, machines, and facilities inside your home have their origins in research conducted by NASA over the past 50 years.
The technology was originally designed to aid space exploration and human landings the moon An endeavor instigated by US President John F. Kennedy in 1961, announcing a series of exciting new missions including the groundbreaking mission Apollo programhas successfully woven together to create some of the essential everyday products we now take for granted.
From golf balls to gaming pads and computers to crash helmets, NASAThe technology was captured and adapted by specialized companies that brought it into the general commercial sphere, introducing new and revolutionary products that changed the way people lived their lives and interacted with their environment.
Throughout this article, we delve into the NASA archives to discover the innovative research and inventions that made ten of the most common everyday household products possible.
Related: Who invented the telescope?
water filters
separation from: Spacecraft nomination
a task: Apollo program
date: 1963 to 1972
Although basic water filters have been around since the mid-1950s, modern filtration systems only took off until NASA poured resources into its research for the Apollo program in 1963. NASA led research in this area because large amounts of water would need to be kept Not polluted for long periods time in extreme conditions.
To achieve this goal, NASA developed a system Which worked by taking advantage of the ability of charcoal to absorb pollutants and particulates found within the water when it was specially treated. This treatment – is essentially an oxidation process that opens millions of tiny pores between the carbons atoms In coal – an amplification of the sorption susceptibility of coal, which, thanks to its large porous surface area, has provided many sites for pollutants with which it chemically binds through attraction. Leaving this resulting water free of impurities.
Microprocessors
separation from: Integrated circuits
a task: Apollo program
date: 1963 to 1972
NASA did not technically invent the integrated circuit, which is attributed to electrical engineer Jack Kilby in 1958, but instead created newer, more advanced forms of it. In fact, it’s easy to say that NASA’s Apollo program launched the microchip revolution, as the administration bought more than 60 percent of America’s integrated circuits throughout the entire 1960s, deliberately allowing the industry to adjust to and stabilize mass production while few other markets existed. .
One of the first notable uses of microchip technology was in Apollo Guidance Computer with its DSKY interface, which was used to provide calculations and control the onboard navigation, as well as control the command module and the lunar module. Today, integrated circuits can be found in almost every sphere of life, from cell phones and personal computers to microwave ovens and calculators, thanks mainly to cheap processing and microchip manufacturing around the world.
crash helmets
separation from: Shock absorbing foam
a task: Apollo program
date: The seventies
In the 1970s NASA invented foamShock-absorbing material designed to improve the safety of aircraft cushions. The foam was fitted to the Apollo spacecraft’s helmets and seats, a lining that would help mitigate some of the extreme forces that astronauts might experience.
Cleansing foam is an additive-treated polyurethane material that has high viscosity and density, which are ideal properties for absorbing large impacts and resisting energy flow. The foam is viscoelastic and temperature sensitive, meaning that when pressed against a heat source, like a human. It molds to this shape, which helps with fit and reduces unwanted gaps.
Stiffness foam was released into the public domain in the early 1980s, and it quickly picked up and used in medical equipment such as foam mattresses and sports equipment such as football helmets and bicycle helmets.
cordless tools
separation from: Cordless impact wrench
a task: Project Gemini, Apollo Program
date: Mid sixties
After Kennedy announced the Apollo program in 1961, a flood of research began into the practical aspects of human spaceflight. One of the most notable accomplishments is NASA’s collaborative invention with tooling company Black + Decker on file Cordless impact wrencha tool that can rotate screws into zero gravity Without the astronaut’s rotation. With this in mind, the research program has developed cordless tools for a variety of purposes, including a cordless rotary hammer drill that can be used to extract rocks from the lunar surface.
These tools worked by exploiting the emerging technology of small, rechargeable electrochemical cells that could be assembled to form a battery pack capable of delivering enough power to generate the required amount of torque needed to drill into the crust of the lunar surface. Today this technology has become so popular and widespread that the majority of gadgets are powered by a cordless battery that can be recharged between uses. Interestingly, it was from NASA research in the 1960s that Black + Decker developed the “Dust Buster” handheld cordless vacuum cleaner.
Scratch resistant lenses
separation from: Scratch-resistant suit protector, glass and scratch-resistant plastic coating
a task: Apollo program
date: 1963 to 1972
After NASA realized that plastic was much better at absorbing ultraviolet light and didn’t shatter if dropped, space masks were produced using plastic. However, uncoated plastic can be easily scratched, considering the amount of dust and debris in a space environment, the need to develop scratch-resistant lenses and coatings was identified.
because of NASA researchSpace visors are now coated with diamond-like layers of carbon that are applied in thin films to the outer surface of the visor and significantly strengthen it. An offshoot of this technology is now available on Ray-Ban sunglasses, while Foster Grant has historically purchased the license to replicate early coatings to apply to their entire collection.
Home smoke detector
separation from: Adjustable smoke detector
a task: skylab
date: 1973
The smoke detector, while invented by Francis Robbins Upton in 1890, was not adjustable until NASA invented Variable sensitivity model In 1973. Units were installed on it skylab To detect toxic fumes on board.
They worked through ionization, a process that involves using a small amount of the radioactive isotope americium-241 to ionize the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the detector’s compact air chamber, which is above and below two metal plates attached to a battery. While ionization occurs, it is released electrons They are attracted to the plate with the positive voltage plate and non-electronic atoms to the negative voltage plate, creating an electric current. When smoke particles from the fire enter the air chamber, they disrupt the current as they contact the ions and neutralize them. The smoke detector senses the current drop and triggers the alarm.
satellite tv
separation from: satellite communications
a task: Telstar
date: 1962
the first Satellites able to Relay TV signals Telstar 1. Launched in 1962, was a joint venture to develop an experimental satellite communications system over the Atlantic Ocean. The satellite was built by Bell Labs in partnership with NASA.
The satellite worked through the use of a data relay transponder. The microwave signals were received through an omnidirectional array of small antennas before increasing and amplifying the signal’s frequency in a traveling wave tube and transmitting back to Earth. NASA has continued to develop this technology, producing more advanced systems to reduce noise and errors in transmitted signals, leading to the ability to transmit high definition video and audio.
Shoe soles
separation from: Moon shoes
a task: Apollo program
date: 1963 to 1972
One of the most notable inventions that NASA incorporated into its spacesuits was its 3D spacer material in shoes for cushioning and ventilation. Used to give astronauts better control, agility, and longevity while on their feet, the lunar boot was a grabber that slid over the spacesuit’s integral pressure boot.
The outer layer is made of woven metallic fabric, except for the ribbed silicone rubber sole which provides more flexibility and comfort while walking on the moon. The tongue area was made from a Teflon-coated fiberglass cloth, while the inner layers were made from this, followed by 25 replacement layers of Kapton film to form an effective, lightweight thermal insulation. With this in mind, shoe manufacturers have created a series of lightweight, warm and springy running shoes and running shoes that are now on sale all over the world in department stores.
Modern dimples for golf balls
separation from: Traction surfaces
a task: Space ship
date: 1981
as part of Space ship In the program, NASA researched maximizing drag resistance for surfaces of the new launch system, particularly for the external fuel tank. The special flush surface applied to the tank allowed NASA to reach an optimal lift-to-drag ratio, and to have more distance and stability when launched.
After being released into the public domain, this aerodynamic paint was studied by the Wilson Sporting Goods Company. Its engineers knew that by applying dimples to the surface of a golf ball, the ball could slide Smoother ride with less aerodynamic drag. Using 3D computer graphics software, Wilson’s engineers were able to predict the progression of the new golf ball and designed a medium-sized golf ball that resulted in high lift and increased slip potential. Today, all golf balls use this diluted coating.
leash
separation from: Apollo lunar lander
a task: Apollo 15 to 17
date: 1971 to 1972
As with smoke detectors, joysticks did exist before NASA picked up the technology, but they were unrecognizable from the products we see today. In fact, it was only through NASA’s work on joystick technology as a file The control mechanism of the Apollo lunar modulewhich will be used on the last three Apollo missions to the Moon, we have the digital joystick and thumbstick technology that we see in cars, planes and video game consoles.
The lunar module’s control unit was a T-shaped joystick and operated by a series of actuators – four to drive and two to steer. Moving the stick forward turned the rover forward, left and right turned the vehicle left or right, and pulling it backward activated the brakes. Activating a switch on the joystick before retracting will put the lunar rover into reverse while pulling the handle backwards will activate the parking brake.
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