Top 10 inventions of NASA

From the beginning, NASA’s purpose extended beyond space ships and moon boots. The law signed at its creation mandated that its research and advancements should benefit all people, and in its 50-year history, NASA has certainly fulfilled that role. Topyaps is presenting a list of technologies and products of NASA committed to ease our daily life.

10. Freeze dried food:

However, the credit of inventing freeze dried food goes to Nestle in late 1938 but it was NASA that implemented the drying method to feed military members as well as astronauts when they are on missions. After eliminating the moisture, the food is packed in a special moisture-proof packet so that it can remain fresh until it is opened.

9. Dialysis machine:

Another exploration of NASA. The invention of dialysis machine in 1940 was something far superior to the healthy life of people across the world. Kidney dialysis machines were developed as a result of a NASA developed chemical process that could remove toxic waste from used dialysis fluid.

8. Satellite television:

The reason behind this invention was to focus on the earth’s weather which started in 1962 as TIROS (Television Infrared Observation satellite) program. Later, research was concentrated on testing the experimental television techniques and infrared equipment to develop a worldwide meteorological satellite information system.

7. Safety grooving:

Carving a groove into concrete may not sound like much of an innovation, but it certainly keeps us safe on the roads. Also called safety grooving, this simple, yet lifesaving, process inserts long, shallow channels into pavement on runways and roads. These indention in the concrete divert excess water from the surface to reduce the amount of water between tires and the runway or road. This increases the friction between wheels and concrete, improving vehicle safety. Safety grooving was first experimented with at NASA’s Langely Research Center in the 1960s as a way to improve safety for aircraft taking off on wet runways.

6. Long distance communications:

Logistically challenging, the Langley project of NASA was committed to carry on long distance telephone conversations. It took decades to built satellites that could communicate with people on the ground about what outer space was like. Around 200 communication satellites orbit the globe each day. NASA monitors the locations and health of many of these satellites to ensure that we can continue to talk to people around the corner or overseas.

5. Smoke detector:

One of the most important safety equipment for premises, smoke detector was invented by NASA for use in space. The first edition of this device was introduced to the Skylab in 1973. This was necessary to to the requirement of adjustable sensitivity for the space station. Many independent tests indicate that optical smoke detectors typically detect particulates (smoke) from hot, flaming fires approximately 30 seconds later than ionization smoke alarms.

4. Joystick:

Now, let’s have some fun. NASA is just not only for space scientists or astronauts but also to make your life more enjoyable. You can now play computer games with all the care needed for a safe and soft Space Shuttle landing. A joystick for computer games was modeled after controls used in Space Shuttle simulators. Astronauts used the joystick to practice landing and steering the Space Shuttle.

3. Water filter:

We drink tap water, enjoying the convenience and cost-effectiveness of this practice, yet, we fail to recognize the serious threat this water may pose to our health. Along with killing bacteria in the water, the filters also prevent further bacterial growth. Companies have borrowed from this same technology to bring us the water filter systems millions of people use at home every day.

2. Cordless tools:

The first cordless tools were developed by NASA to allow astronauts to drill for moon samples because they could not use corded power tools very well in the conditions of space and on the moon. Don’t forget that when you’re sucking up bits of dirt or crumbs around the house with a handheld cordless vacuum, you are actually using the same technology that astronauts used on the moon.

1. Computer microchip:

And here comes the technology which rules the world. This electronic breakthrough was achieved while conceptualizing a computer that could be used on the Lunar Excursion Module for calculating orbital trajectories. A programmable computer, with a few kilobits of memory, which did not require a lot of battery power was required. As a result, the first microprocessor was created, which is a computer on a chip. That means that all of the components needed for the computer to operate where on a single wafer of silicon.

Written by: earthwit on September 13, 2010.