Space inventions: they are all around you
Zippers, Velcro, baby milk formula, GoPro, dental X-ray, memory foam, cushioned shoes… We should thank the space industry for these inventions.
The difficult living conditions in space challenge us to re-think the most basic things we are used to on Earth. Often this leads to the invention of much more compact, efficient, and just plain cool devices, tools, or processes. Costing thousands of dollars for space use at first, these inventions inspire wide adoption on Earth making them accessible to the public. Today, we will go through some of these inventions used on a daily basis. Only NASA itself has 2000 commercialized products or services incorporating NASA technology or expertise (named spinoffs).
Sport would not be the same without spacetech development
Some of the most commonly known space tech adoptions are zippers and Velcro. NASA has developed airtight zippers for use in spacesuits which are now being used for scuba diving dry suits, ocean survivor suites, and hazmat suits. Velcro has been in use since 1914. Initially, it was unpopular due to its cheap look until it started being used to help astronauts maneuver in and out of bulky space suits. Skiers noted the similar advantages of a suit that was easier to manipulate. Scuba and marine gear soon followed and it is now an essential part of our lives.
Foam material for midsoles in shoes was a revolution in the sports shoe industry. It eliminates cushioning loss from body weight which reduces the load on joints and muscles. This is something that we most likely would not have experienced if the Apollo program hadn’t invented it for spacesuits first.
Wind-tunnel testing at NASA played a key role in the development of Speedo’s LZR Racer swimsuit, proving which materials and seams best reduced drag as a swimmer cutting through the water. The swimsuit made a splash during its Olympic debut in 2008, as nearly every medal winner and world-record breaker wore the suit. Full-body swimsuits, such as the original LZR Racer, have since been disallowed from international competitions, however, a modified version of the suit continues to be popular among professional competitors.
Medicine improvements from the heart to the smile
Hundreds of people in need of a heart transplant have been kept alive thanks to a cardiac pump that was designed with the help of NASA expertise in simulating fluid flow through rocket engines. This model of cardiac pump is a mini version of the fuel pump from the Space Shuttle.
When we see a dentist for an X-ray we don’t normally think about its connection to space, but we should. The technology which allowed X-ray machines to become non-toxic and small enough to fit in your mouth is exactly the same technology that was developed in the 1980s to improve spacecraft imaging. This same technology is being used in your mobile phone camera and GoPro, and was previously licensed by Kodak and AT&T Bell Labs.
A company working with NASA invented the translucent ceramic that became the critical component of the first “invisible” dental braces, which went on to become one of the best-selling orthodontic products of all time. Thank you to space for millions of beautiful smiles.
Space technology at home and work
In space, it is difficult to get fresh air, clean water, and fresh food. To address this, spacecrafts have systems to support these critical needs for months in a closed environment. Some of these functions have been adopted on Earth for home and work contexts. The most recent and close example of space conditions was isolation at home during the pandemic. What has helped us during this period?
The International Space Station crew is growing plants in orbit. When plants grow, they release a gas that causes fruit and vegetables to ripen and decay quicker. This is not a problem on Earth due to natural air circulation, but in space, this gas needs to be controlled and removed. A special air filter was developed for space farmers that has subsequently proved capable of purifying air on Earth from all kinds of pathogens (viruses, bacteria) and particulates. When used on Earth, these purifiers help keep food fresh for longer and make fruit ripen safely.
Strict protocols for astronauts minimizes but doesn’t eliminate viruses and bacteria completely. This makes condensed and wastewater filtering a priority onboard. A nanofiber filter - approximately the size of human DNA - was created to purify water in orbit which is capable of filtering all but 1 in a million viruses and bacteria from water. This has been used to create low-cost filters that supply water to remote villages as well as allowing hikers and adventurers to stay hydrated by using water from streams and lakes, filtered safely through their drinking bottle.
Enriched formula for babies is another food space invention. While developing life support systems for Mars missions, NASA-funded researchers discovered a natural source of omega-3 fatty acid. Production technology involving algae is now incorporated into more than 90 percent of baby formulas on the market, making the composition of formula closer to that of breast milk.
A bumpy launch and landing put additional requirements on astronaut comfort. Perhaps the most widely recognized NASA spinoff - memory foam - was invented while looking for ways to keep test pilots cushioned during flights. With memory foam mattresses accounting for about 10% of the global market share in 2021, we can say that 1 in 10 households can dream about being an astronaut every night.
Investing in space is not only opening new opportunities for humanity such as green energy and resources from asteroids. It is transforming industries on Earth, creating new products, and saving lives. When people ask the question 'Why do we need to go to Mars' - one of the answers could be that the unique technologies which will spin off from building a Mars colony will improve our medicine dramatically, help with global warming and create more sustainable food and water. The return on investments will likely be higher than we can grasp now.
I have always believed that space pushes technology forward and that technology is widely applied on Earth. Thanks for the good article. Now I have arguments when I discuss Mars colonization:)