Space Update: The Byproducts of Space Technology Represent Some of the Most Innovative Technology Humanity Has Produced

NASA and the Russian space program have impacted our world well beyond giving us a glimpse of what it looks like from the Moon and low-Earth orbit. I came across a number of lists in the last few days and compiled a single one which I thought I would share with you. By all means this list is not complete but it does demonstrate the incredible technological innovations that have been gained from our 50+ years in space. Some on this list will probably surprise you. They did me.

So here goes. I have organized the items by industry and alphabetically:

Art, Archeology

• Atomic oxygen technology to remove unwanted material from historic paintings
• Multispectral imaging to read ancient Roman manuscripts found at Mt. Vesuvius

Aviation and Commercial Aerospace

• 3D virtual navigation technology
• Advanced chemical propulsion systems
• Aircraft modeling programs
• Ion propulsion systems
• Fly-by-wire technology
• Hang gliders
• Navigation and guidance systems
• Nuclear propulsion systems
• Ramjets
• Scanners for airport baggage
• Scramjets
• Simulation tools for aviation and aircraft design

Banking

• ATM technology

Biomedicine

• Antiseptic cleaning technology for hospitals and operating rooms
• Artifical heart pump technology
• Bioreactors for culturing cells
• Brainwave monitoring
• Cardiac angiography
• CAT scanners
• Heart defibrillators
• Kidney dialysis machines
• Laser imaging spectrometer for biological research
• Microwave scanners for breast cancer
• MRI scanners
• PET scanners
• Portable x-ray technology
• Remote medical monitoring
• Remote Robotic surgery
• Ventilation technology for critical care

Communication

• Holographic testing of communications antennas
• Internet
• Low-noise receivers
• Satellite communications
• Satellite TV
• Secure communications

Computing Technology

• Analysis tools for massive amounts of scientific data
• Image-processing software for crash-testing automobiles
• JAVA Pathfinder programming language for business applications
• Microprocessor and semiconductor technology
• Video games

Energy

• Advanced Power Converters
• Battery Technology for Cordless Devices
• Fuel cells
• Fusion reactors
• Photovoltaics

Food

• Food safety testing technology
• Food supplements
• Freeze-dried food
• Sugar substitute low-calorie sweeteners
• Thermo-stabilized foods
• Water purification filter

Geoscience

• Aerial reconnaissance and Earth resources mapping
• Climate change studies
• LIDAR
• Monitoring of Earth-based storms such as hurricanes
• Ozone depletion studies
• Space objects and satellite monitoring

Materials Science and Manufacturing

• Advanced composites including 20 different products for hydrocarbon and chemical processing, power generation, metal production, glass making, and baking
• Athletic shoe manufacturing techniques
• High-temperature coatings
• HVAC filtering systems to reduce allergies and asthma
• Memory foam
• Nanotubes
• New fabrics for space and application on Earth including materials for divers, swimmers, hazardous material workers, and others
• Polyimide foams
• Nanotubes
• Teflon-coated fiberglassSafety and Emergency Response

Safety Technology

• Breathing systems for firefighting
• Hazardous gas sensors
• High-pressure fire hose systems
• Life raft technology for marine emergencies

Transportation

• Pay at the Pump satellite technology
• Insulation barriers for autos