Fifty years ago, the U.S. Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, forming NASA and calling for the widespread dissemination of its newfound technologies to the public. Five decades of daring to challenge the impossible and brave new frontiers of exploration and technology has brought NASA, and indeed humankind, countless discoveries, revelations, and dramatic moments of pride and wonder. Inspiration fueling innovation, innovation enabling discovery; this is NASA’s legacy and future, and the sometimes serendipitous mechanism through which the lives of the American public, and people worldwide, have benefited. Exploring the cosmos has revolutionized medicine, transportation, public safety, recreation, environmental monitoring and resource management, computer technology, industrial productivity, and our perception of the planet on which we live and the universe of which our Earth is one small part. 

50 Years of NASA-Derived Technologies 50 Years of Exploration and Innovation NASA’s 50th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the power of inspiration, innovation, and discovery. While looking forward to the bright promise held by the future of space exploration, an eye toward the past highlights just how far technology and understanding have come in the last five decades, amid milestone moments both poignant and profound as the first steps were taken into the vastness beyond Earth’s atmosphere. This timeline collects the most memorable missions that brought our fellow men and women into the company of the stars, as well as research into the cutting edge of aeronautics design and practices. A selection of notable benefits realized by society follows each entry, highlighting how the pursuit of sky and stars continually revolutionizes our daily lives on Earth. The entries are listed by program start date, to frame the context of the research and development, and connect to the time scale at the date of first launch. As the last page turns from this proud and rich history to look at the missions yet to come, our imaginations are free to consider what marvelous developments these technologies may bring to our home and life. 10 Spinoff 2008 We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. -President John F. Kennedy, 1962 Part of NASA’s mission is to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and explorers. NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program, in conjunction with the Office of Education, conducted the NASA 50th Anniversary Essay Competition during academic year 2007-2008 to inspire and encourage middle school students to continue with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. First, students described benefits in everyday life from technologies built by NASA over the last 50 years; the winning essay is published below. Second, NASA challenged students to imagine how their everyday lives will be changed by NASA technology years into the future; that essay is found at the end of the timeline. Spinoff 2008 11 NASA 50th Anniversary Essay Competition First Prize: $5,000 college scholarship and four VIP trips to the Kennedy Space Center to watch the STS-125 space shuttle launch Jackson Warley, 7th Grade, Renaissance Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado Teacher: Mr. Ron Hamilton Describe how you benefit today in everyday life due to NASA aerospace technology and spinoffs from the last 50 years. Since NASA’s inception fifty years ago, the technology it has developed has changed everyday life dramatically. NASA technologies adapted for use outside the space program include smoke detectors with adjustable sensitivity, memory foam, space blankets, advanced microencapsulation technology, foamless toothpaste, space pens, advanced heat-resistant composites and other inventions. However, it is not only NASA technology that has been beneficial to us all; it is also the underlying spirit and principles of NASA. It seems that to some people it is hard to think of anything used in everyday life that was developed by the space program. In fact, we are surrounded by these objects. You may have seen pens that write at all angles in stores. These were developed for use in space. Have you ever been to a camping store? If so, you will have seen reflective space blankets. 

These (as their name would suggest) were also developed for the space program. If you play football you may have used a shock absorbing helmet. These make use of memory foam (also known as temper foam); a material developed by NASA for use in aircraft seats. You might also have slept in a bed made of this material. If you have ever watched television transmitted from a satellite dish, you have made use of another NASA inspired technology. Although NASA did not technically invent television satellite dishes, it has developed ways to clarify signals hence reducing signal noise. Just because there is NASA-developed technology used for non-aerospace applications doesn’t mean that you use it in your day-to-day life. Some NASA technology is used more frequently for industrial applications. This includes a noteworthy invention that is used to clean up oil spills. It consists of microcapsules of beeswax that stimulate the natural microbes to consume the oil. This makes use of NASA microencapsulation technology developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Not only does this product stimulate microbial life to remove the oil, the beeswax spheres actually absorb oil into their hollow centers and dispose of it safely. It is important that the oil is not allowed to settle, another reason why this technology is so effective. This is just one example of NASA inspired technology that benefits our daily lives indirectly by improving the condition of the overall environment. The final thing that benefits us in everyday life isn’t even a piece of technology. This is, quite simply put, the overall spirit of NASA. NASA heeds the basic human calling to explore the unknown and in doing so, gives people motivation, albeit not through advanced technology. 

One hundred years ago, before NASA was founded, the idea of humans in space would have seemed impossible. Now, it is commonplace. Through daring and determination, even the wildest dreams can be realized. “Failure is not an option.” Never give up, even under the most grim circumstances. These are the concepts through which NASA has inspired us over the fifty years that it has existed. This timeline presents a few dozen of the more than 1,600 technologies profiled by Spinoff over the last 30+ years. 50 Years of Exploration and Innovation 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 The missions that took humans to the Moon resulted in many benefits on Earth. Because of them: • Cool suits alleviate dangers from high-heat environments and medical conditions. • Kidney dialysis machines remove toxic waste from used dialysis fluid. • A machine aids physical therapy and athletic development. • A stress-free “blow molding” process manufactures athletic shoes. • Communities benefit from water purification technology. • Manufacturers preserve food through freezedrying. • Sensors detect hazardous gasses. Apollo 1961-1975 Gemini 1962-1966 The Gemini missions paved the way to the Moon and resulted in a variety of benefits. As a result of these missions: • Miniature signal conditioners ease data exchange across health care organizations. • Radiant barrier materials protect against temperature extremes. • Anti-glare coatings for cathode ray tube screens minimize brightness, enhance contrast, and improve readability. • Monitors for operating rooms analyze anesthetic gasses and measure patient oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen concentrations. • Oil well and pipeline technologies facilitate operation of the Alaskan pipeline. • Controlled explosives cut emergency exits in vehicles and demolish unsafe buildings and bridges. Mercury 1959-1963 The six Mercury missions placed the first Americans in orbit and brought some of the first public benefits of the Space Program, including plasma heating for hydrocarbon decomposition and toxic, medical, asbestos, chemical, and radioactive waste disposal. Weather Satellites 1960-Present Lifting Bodies 1962-1975 Five heavyweight lifting-body designs provided an excellent starting point for designers of future vehicles, including the space shuttle.

NASA Founded 1958 On July 29, President Eisenhower signed into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act, thus creating the Space Agency. X-15 1959-1968 This joint program by NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, and North American Aviation (now part of Boeing) provided data on hypersonic flight, aerodynamic heating, reaction controls for flight above the atmosphere, and piloting techniques for atmospheric reentry. NASA launched the first Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) on April 1, 1960. The TIROS program evolved into the Nation’s weather satellite system. NASA built and launched polar-orbiting weather satellites for NOAA through 2009 and continues to do so for geostationary satellites. 12 Spinoff 2008 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 America’s first space station and orbital science and engineering laboratory provided an unprecedented platform for experimentation and returned myriad benefits: • Hand-held ultrasonic systems detect indications of bearing failure. • Monitoring systems evaluate particulate matter in gas streams. • Computerized solar water heaters save energy. • Cryogenic liquid methane tanks store aircraft fuel. • Emergency and night lighting systems save energy. • Solar screens cut 70 to 80 percent of heat and glare. • New wire-and-rod grounding systems prevent corrosion. • Negative pressure techniques relieve respiratory distress in infants. Skylab 1973-1979 Space Shuttle 1969-Present The Space Shuttle Program alone has generated more than 100 technology spinoffs. As a result of shuttle research: • Miniaturized heart pumps save lives. • Thermal protection system materials protect racecar drivers. • Bioreactors help chemists design new therapeutic drugs and antibodies. • Compact laboratory instruments allow faster blood analysis. • Sensitive hand-held infrared cameras scan for forest fires. • Rocket fuel helps destroy land mines. • Light-emitting diodes treat cancerous tumors. • Prosthetic limbs are lighter and stronger. • An extrication tool removes accident victims from wrecked vehicles. • Municipalities track and reassign emergency and public works vehicles. • Law enforcement agencies can improve the resolution of crime scene video. Winglets 1979-1981 Winglets applied to the tips of the main wings on KC-135 aircraft improved vehicle aerodynamics and fuel efficiency and are now universally accepted. Now widely used by commercial airliners, the digital fly-by-wire control system improved maneuver control, ride, and combat survivability for military aircraft. F-8C Digital Fly-By-Wire Control System 1972-1985 Landsat 1-7 1966-Present For 34 years, the Landsat series of satellite missions jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey has collected information about Earth from space.

Landsat satellites have taken specialized digital photographs of Earth’s continents and surrounding coastal regions, enabling people to study many aspects of our planet and evaluate the dynamic changes caused by natural processes and human practices. This unparalleled data archive gives scientists the ability to assess changes in Earth’s landscape and atmosphere. 30 years after launch, 

Voyager 1 and 2 are entering interstellar space. Both spacecraft still send information through the Deep Space Network, and have brought other benefits: • AIDS research and e-commerce utilize software to identify data deviations. • Astronomers and space enthusiasts employ software offering views recorded by spacecraft. 

Voyager 1977-Present Spinoff 2008 13 The Terminal Area Productivity (TAP) Program sought to achieve clear-weather capacity, safely and affordably, in instrumentweather conditions. Benefits include: • Mathematically modeled wake vortices to determine safe aircraft separation standards. • A new computer system to assist flight controllers, called the Aircraft Vortex Spacing System. • A three-dimensional auditory display system for ground operations, including a computer-generated voice that provides verbal warnings of impending collisions with other aircraft or vehicles. NASA/FAA Research into Efficient Airspace Operations 1994-2001 Hubble Space Telescope 1990-Present 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 X-29 Flight Research 1981-1990 X-29 flight research aircraft demonstrated forward-swept wing technology and provided data on aeroelastic tailoring, active controls, and canard effects. A joint study by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration on the cause of wind shear resulted in a better understanding of corrective actions, outcome procedures, and technologies. NASA/FAA Wind Shear Program 1986-1993 Perhaps the world’s most famous telescope, Hubble has given us more than close-up views of our galaxy: • Surgeons perform micro-invasive arthroscopic surgery with increased precision. • Precision optics and advanced scheduling software optimizes semiconductor manufacturing. • Software allows astronomers to locate, identify, and acquire images of deep sky objects. • Imaging technology makes breast biopsies less invasive and more accurate. 1983 Earth Observing System 1999-Present 14 Spinoff 2008 Spinoff 2008 15 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Still under construction and orbiting 200 miles above, the International Space Station is yielding benefits here on Earth: • A novel, quick-fastening nut for use in firefighting, aerospace, gas fittings, and manufacturing. • Hand-held devices warn pilots of dangerous or deteriorating cabin pressure. • An air purifier kills 93.3 percent of airborne pathogens, including anthrax. • Robotic arms assist in human-collaborative medical surgery and emergency response to chemical, biological, and nuclear material spills. • Reverse osmosis technology is used to clean the water runoff from landfills. • Superelastic and high-damping golf clubs. • A video headset offers people with low vision a view of their surroundings. • 360º immersive digital representations provide consumers with views of the latest automobiles, hotel accommodations, and real estate. International Space Station 1993-Present Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) 1994-2003 On January 14, President Bush unveiled the Vision for Space Exploration, laying out plans for NASA to complete assembly of the International Space Station by 2010, retire the space shuttle, and create new launch vehicles and programs that will return NASA to the Moon and then on to Mars. Vision for Space Exploration 2004 NASA’s 50th Anniversary 2008 This year, America’s Space Agency celebrates 50 years of innovation, inspiration, and discovery, enabling us to learn more about ourselves, our world, and how to manage and protect it. The remotely piloted, solar-powered “Helios” vehicle flew to the record-breaking altitude of 96,863 feet, leading the way for future highaltitude, long-duration, solar-powered aircraft. Using the accumulated technology and knowledge of over 30 years of Mars exploration programs, these twin vehicles, launched in June (Spirit) and July (Opportunity) 2003, continue their pursuit of geological clues about current and past environmental conditions on Mars. Benefits include: • A robot that can climb grades up to 60 percent and survive submersion in water up to 6.6 feet deep, and possesses flippers that propel it over obstructions and through rocks, rubble, and debris. It is being used during combat operations to provide soldiers with a safe first look at potentially hostile environments. • A mineral identification tool now helping U.S. law enforcement agencies and military personnel identify suspicious liquid and solid substances. • Panoramic imaging and photographic systems being used to photograph and map cities, towns, and landscapes for municipal, commercial, and personal applications. Mars Exploration Rovers 1998-Present NASA launched its first series of EOS satellites from 1999 through 2004, and continues to upgrade and enhance this constellation of satellites to detect and measure global change. Observations from these satellites provide much of the basis of our understanding of climate change, and find myriad applications in our economy and society. Earth Observing System 1999-Present 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020 2050 16 Spinoff 2008 Space is for everybody. It’s not just for a few people in science or math, or for a select group of astronauts. That’s our new frontier out there, and it’s everybody’s business to know about space. -Christa McAuliffe, 1985 • New robotic missions to the other planets and small bodies in our solar system will reveal our solar system’s history and the potential for life elsewhere. • Manned mission to Mars • Additional space telescopes: If the Terrestrial Planet Finder discovers extrasolar planets with evidence of life, NASA would pursue additional space telescopes that can confirm the existence of life on these worlds and image their features. A human presence in deep space could be necessary to help erect and upgrade such future telescopes. • Lunar outpost construction begins. 2009 • The Ares I-X is NASA’s first test flight for the Agency’s Constellation launch vehicles; it will employ a space shuttlederived solid rocket booster and upper stage engine similar to those used on the Apollo spacecraft. • Mars Science Laboratory: A longduration rover/mobile scientific laboratory equipped to perform many studies of Mars. • Kepler: This NASA Discovery mission is specifically designed to survey our region of the Milky Way Galaxy to detect and characterize hundreds of Earth-size and smaller planets in or nearby the “habitable zone” where liquid water can exist on a planet’s surface. First crewed flight of Orion: Before any journeys to the Moon, the new Orion crew capsule will be used to ferry crew members and supplies to the International Space Station. 2015 Planned completion of the International Space Station. 2010 2020-2050 International Space Station preparations for deep space missions: Research necessary to support human explorers on other worlds will be complete. 2016 • Mars scout missions: Future unmanned missions will involve airborne vehicles and small landers that serve as investigation platforms. • James Webb Space Telescope: JWST, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, will find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe, connecting the Big Bang to our own Milky Way galaxy. 2013 • The Soil Moisture Active/Passive mission will inaugurate a new series of Earth observing missions for science and applications. • The Radiation Belt Storm Probes will begin the next wave of missions to understand how our Sun wields its governing influence over our solar system. 2012 Spinoff 2008 17 Second Prize: $2,500 college scholarship Grace Nowadly, 7th Grade, Berkeley Middle School in Williamsburg, Virginia Teacher: Ms. Kathy Poe Describe how, 50 years from now, your everyday life may benefit from NASA’s future aerospace technology. “Hurry up, Grace! You’re going to miss it!” “Be there in a minute!” I called back to my husband. I grew more impatient by the second as, one by one, my popcorn kernels began to pop. The microwave finally started to beep and I grabbed the popcorn and gave it to my granddaughter who ran back to the room in which the rest of her family was sitting. I slowly walked back and sat down just in time to see a hazy image of a spacecraft slowly moving towards a small, red planet. “I never thought I’d live to see the day when astronauts landed on Mars. My mother used to tell me about her whole family watching the landing on the moon, and now my whole family is watching the landing on Mars! Just think about how far we’ve come. First the moon, now Mars! What’s next?” I said out loud as my grandchildren watched the screen, only half listening. Hmm…What is next? I thought to myself. I looked over at my son. He was an air traffic controller at a local airport. Oh yeah! He told me that NASA was going to set up a new program that makes air traffic control easier. I turned back to the television and watched the ship come closer and closer to the tiny planet. I was watching the television, but I was doing lots of thinking. I also heard on the news somewhere that NASA will launch a satellite that can track the spreading of diseases, I thought to myself. That could help doctors and scientists to control pandemics. If they knew where diseases were rapidly spreading, they could evacuate healthy people from the area, help the infected people, and keep people from coming in the area. I looked around the room and saw my three grandchildren sitting around the television in big bean bag chairs. Will NASA try to help them somehow? I remembered when I brought them to the Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. They looked at every brochure of educational programs available to them. There were camps, classes, and other programs that all focused on NASA and space exploration. I looked at the television and heard rejoicing through out the room as the spacecraft landed on the smoky, red, surface of Mars. The kids jumped up and down and ran around the house. Everyone was happy and watched eagerly for the astronauts’ next move. As they slowly stepped out of the tiny door onto a planet never visited by man, I couldn’t help but think, Well, NASA will keep making everyday life better, one step at a time. As NASA celebrates 50 years of scientific and technological excellence that have powered us into the 21st century, it reflects on signature accomplishments that are enduring icons of human achievement. Among those accomplishments are technological innovations and scientific discoveries that have improved and shaped our lives on Earth in a myriad of ways. In looking forward to a promising new era of inspiration, innovation, and discovery, the second topic in the 50th Anniversary Essay Contest required students to imagine how their everyday lives will have changed because of NASA aerospace technology years into the future. 18 Spinoff 2008 NASA Technologies Benefit Our Lives Trace Space Back to You! Have you ever wondered how space exploration impacts your daily life? Spinoff 2008 19 S pace exploration has created new markets and new technologies that have spurred our economy and changed our lives in many ways. This year, NASA unveiled two new complementary interactive Web features, NASA City and NASA @ Home, available at www.nasa.gov/city. The new features highlight how space pervades our lives, invisible yet critical to so many aspects of our daily activities and well-being. Health and Medicine Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Red light-emitting diodes are growing plants in space and healing humans on Earth. The LED technology used in NASA space shuttle plant growth experiments has contributed to the development of medical devices such as award-winning WARP 10, a hand-held, highintensity, LED unit developed by Quantum Devices Inc. The WARP 10 is intended for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, arthritis, stiffness, and muscle spasms, and also promotes muscle relaxation and increases local blood circulation. The WARP 10 is being used by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Navy as a noninvasive “soldier self-care” device that aids front-line forces with first aid for minor injuries and pain, thereby improving endurance in combat. The next-generation WARP 75 has been used to relieve pain in bone marrow transplant patients, and will be used to combat the symptoms of bone atrophy, multiple sclerosis, diabetic complications, Parkinson’s disease, and in a variety of ocular applications. (Spinoff 2005, 2008) Infrared Ear Thermometers Diatek Corporation and NASA developed an aural thermometer, which weighs only 8 ounces and uses infrared astronomy technology to measure the amount of energy emitted by the eardrum, the same way the temperature of stars and planets is measured. This method avoids contact with mucous membranes, virtually eliminating the possibility of cross infection, and permits rapid temperature measurement of newborn, critically-ill, or incapacitated patients. NASA supported the Diatek Corporation, a world leader in electronic thermometry, through the Technology Affiliates Program. (Spinoff 1991) Artificial Limbs NASA’s continued funding, coupled with its collective innovations in robotics and shock-absorption/comfort materials are inspiring and enabling the private sector to create new and better solutions for animal and human prostheses. Advancements such as Environmental Robots Inc.’s development of artificial muscle systems with robotic sensing and actuation capabilities for use in NASA space robotic and extravehicular activities are being adapted to create more functionally dynamic artificial limbs (Spinoff 2004). Additionally, other private-sector adaptations of NASA’s temper foam technology have brought about custom-moldable materials offering the natural look and feel of flesh, as well as preventing friction between the skin and the prosthesis, and heat/moisture buildup. (Spinoff 2005) Ventricular Assist Device Collaboration between NASA, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Dr. George Noon, and MicroMed Technology Inc. resulted in a lifesaving heart pump for patients awaiting heart transplants. The MicroMed DeBakey ventricular assist device (VAD) functions as a “bridge to heart transplant” by pumping blood throughout the body to keep critically ill patients alive until a donor heart is available. Weighing less than 4 ounces and measuring 1 by 3 inches, the pump is approximately one-tenth the size of other currently marketed pulsatile VADs. This makes it less invasive and ideal for smaller adults and children. Because of the pump’s small size, less than 5 percent of the patients implanted developed device-related infections. It can operate up to 8 hours on batteries, giving patients the mobility to do normal, everyday activities. (Spinoff 2002) Transportation Anti-Icing Systems NASA funding under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and work with NASA scientists advanced the development of the certification and integration of a thermoelectric deicing system called Thermawing, a DC-powered air conditioner for singleengine aircraft called Thermacool, and high-output alternators to run them both. Thermawing, a reliable anti-icing and deicing system, allows pilots to safely fly through ice encounters and provides pilots of 20 Spinoff 2008 single-engine aircraft the heated wing technology usually reserved for larger, jet-powered craft. Thermacool, an innovative electric air conditioning system, uses a new compressor whose rotary pump design runs off an energy-efficient, brushless DC motor and allows pilots to use the air conditioner before the engine even starts. (Spinoff 2007) Highway Safety Safety grooving, the cutting of grooves in concrete to increase traction and prevent injury, was first developed to reduce aircraft accidents on wet runways. Represented by the International Grooving and Grinding Association, the industry expanded into highway and pedestrian applications. The technique originated at Langley Research Center, which assisted in testing the grooving at airports and on highways. Skidding was reduced, stopping distance decreased, and a vehicle’s cornering ability on curves was increased. The process has been extended to animal holding pens, steps, parking lots, and other potentially slippery surfaces. (Spinoff 1985) Improved Radial Tires Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company developed a fibrous material, five times stronger than steel, for NASA to use in parachute shrouds to soft-land the Vikings on the Martian surface. The fiber’s chain-like molecular structure gave it incredible strength in proportion to its weight. Recognizing the increased strength and durability of the material, Goodyear expanded the technology and went on to produce a new radial tire with a tread life expected to be 10,000 miles greater than conventional radials. (Spinoff 1976) Chemical Detection NASA contracted with Intelligent Optical Systems (IOS) to develop moisture- and pH-sensitive sensors to warn of potentially dangerous corrosive conditions in aircraft before significant structural damage occurs. This new type of sensor, using a specially manufactured optical fiber whose entire length is chemically sensitive, changes color in response to contact with its target. After completing the work with NASA, IOS was tasked by the U.S. Department of Defense to further develop the sensors for detecting chemical warfare agents and potential threats, such as toxic industrial compounds and nerve agents, for which they proved just as successful. IOS has additionally sold the chemically sensitive fiber optic cables to major automotive and aerospace companies, who are finding a variety of uses for the devices such as aiding experimentation with nontraditional power sources, and as an economical “alarm system” for detecting chemical release in large facilities. (Spinoff 2007) Public Safety Video Enhancing and Analysis Systems Intergraph Government Solutions developed its Video Analyst System (VAS) by building on Video Image Stabilization and Registration (VISAR) technology created by NASA to help FBI agents analyze video footage. Originally used for enhancing video images from nighttime videotapes made with hand-held camcorders, VAS is a state-of-the-art, simple, effective, and affordable tool for video enhancement and analysis offering benefits such as support of fullresolution digital video, stabilization, frame-by-frame analysis, conversion of analog video to digital storage formats, and increased visibility of filmed subjects without altering underlying footage. Aside from law enforcement and security applications, VAS has also been adapted to serve the military for reconnaissance, weapons deployment, damage assessment, training, and mission debriefing. (Spinoff 2001) Land Mine Removal Due to arrangements such as the one between Thiokol Propulsion and NASA that permits Thiokol to use NASA’s surplus rocket fuel to produce a flare that can safely destroy land mines, NASA is able to reduce propellant waste without negatively impacting the environment, and Thiokol is able to access the materials needed to develop the Demining Device flare. The Demining Device flare uses a battery-triggered electric match to ignite and neutralize land mines in the field without detonation. The flare uses solid rocket fuel to burn a hole in the mine’s case and burn away the explosive contents so the mine can be disarmed without hazard. (Spinoff 2000) Fire-Resistant Reinforcement Built and designed by Avco Corporation, the Apollo heat shield was coated with a material whose purpose was to burn and thus dissipate energy during reentry while charring, to form a protective coating to block Spinoff 2008 21 heat penetration. NASA subsequently funded Avco’s development of other applications of the heat shield, such as fire-retardant paints and foams for aircraft, which led to the world’s first intumescent epoxy material, which expands in volume when exposed to heat or flames, acting as an insulating barrier and dissipating heat through burn-off. Further innovations based on this product include steel coatings devised to make high-rise buildings and public structures safer by swelling to provide a tough and stable insulating layer over the steel for up to 4 hours of fire protection, ultimately to slow building collapse and provide more time for escape. (Spinoff 2006) Firefighter Gear Firefighting equipment widely used throughout the United States is based on a NASA development that coupled Agency design expertise with lightweight materials developed for the U.S. Space Program. A project that linked NASA and the National Bureau of Standards resulted in a lightweight breathing system including face mask, frame, harness, and air bottle, using an aluminum composite material developed by NASA for use on rocket casings. Aerospace technology has been beneficially transferred to civil-use applications for years, but perhaps the broadest fire-related technology transfer is the breathing apparatus worn by firefighters for protection from smoke inhalation injury. Additionally, radio communications are essential during a fire to coordinate hose lines, rescue victims, and otherwise increase efficiency and safety. NASA’s inductorless electronic circuit technology contributed to the development of a lowercost, more rugged, short-range two-way radio now used by firefighters. NASA also helped develop a specialized mask weighing less than 3 ounces to protect the physically impaired from injuries to the face and head, as well as flexible, heat-resistant materials—developed to protect the space shuttle on reentry—which are being used both by the military and commercially in suits for municipal and aircraft-rescue firefighters. (Spinoff 1976) Consumer, Home, and Recreation Temper Foam As the result of a program designed to develop a padding concept to improve crash protection for airplane passengers, Ames Research Center developed a foam material with unusual properties. The material is widely used and commonly known as temper foam or “memory foam.” The material has been incorporated into a host of widely used and recognized products including mattresses, pillows, military and civilian aircraft, automobiles and motorcycles, sports safety equipment, amusement park rides and arenas, horseback saddles, archery targets, furniture, and human and animal prostheses. Its highenergy absorption and soft characteristics not only offer superior protection in the event of an accident or impact, but enhanced comfort and support for passengers on long flights or those seeking restful sleep. Today, temper foam is being employed by NASCAR to provide added safety in racecars. (Spinoff 1976, 1977, 1979, 1988, 1995, 2002, 2005) Enriched Baby Food Commercially available infant formulas now contain a nutritional enrichment ingredient that traces its existence to NASA-sponsored research that explored the potential of algae as a recycling agent for long-duration space travel. The substance, formulated into the products life’sDHA and life’sARA, can be found in over 90 percent of the infant formulas sold in the United States, and are added to the infant formulas sold in over 65 additional countries. The products were developed and are manufactured by Martek Biosciences Corporation, which has pioneered the commercial development of products based on microalgae; the company’s founders and principal scientists acquired their expertise in this area while working on the NASA program. (Spinoff 1996, 2008) Portable Cordless Vacuums Apollo and Gemini space mission technologies created by Black & Decker have helped change the way we clean around the house. For the Apollo space mission, NASA required a portable, self-contained drill capable of extracting core samples from below the lunar surface. Black & Decker was tasked with the job, and developed a computer program to optimize the design of the drill’s motor and insure minimal power consumption. That computer program led to the development of a cordless miniature vacuum cleaner called the Dustbuster. (Spinoff 1981) 22 Spinoff 2008 Freeze Drying Technology In planning for the long-duration Apollo missions, NASA conducted extensive research into space food. One of the techniques developed was freeze drying—Action Products commercialized this technique, concentrating on snack food. The foods are cooked, quickly frozen, and then slowly heated in a vacuum chamber to remove the ice crystals formed by the freezing process. The final product retains 98 percent of its nutrition and weighs only 20 percent of its original weight. Today, one of the benefits of this advancement in food preparation includes simple nutritious meals available to handicapped and otherwise homebound senior adults unable to take advantage of existing meal programs sponsored by government and private organizations. (Spinoff 1976, 1994) Environmental and Agricultural Resources Harnessing Solar Energy Homes across the country are now being outfitted with modern, high-performance, low-cost, single crystal silicon solar power cells that allow them to reduce their traditional energy expenditures and contribute to pollution reduction. The advanced technology behind these solar devices—which are competitivelypriced and provide up to 50 percent more power than conventional s o l a r c e l l s — o r i g i n a t e d with the efforts of a NASAsponsored 28-member coalition of companies, government groups, universities, and nonprofits forming the Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) Alliance. ERAST’s goal was to foster the development of remotely piloted aircraft intended to fly unmanned at high altitudes for days at a time, requiring advanced solar power sources that did not add weight. As a result, SunPower Corporation created the most advanced silicon-based cells available for terrestrial or airborne applications. (Spinoff 2005) Pollution Remediation A product using NASA’s microencapsulating technology is available to consumers and industry enabling them to safely and permanently clean petroleum-based pollutants from water. The microencapsulated wonder, Petroleum Remediation Product or “PRP,” has revolutionized the way oil spills are cleaned. The basic technology behind PRP is thousands of microcapsules— tiny balls of beeswax with hollow centers. Water cannot penetrate the microcapsule’s cell, but oil is absorbed right into the beeswax spheres as they float on the water’s surface. Contaminating chemical compounds that originally come from crude oil (such as fuels, motor oils, or petroleum hydrocarbons) are caught before they settle, limiting damage to ocean beds. (Spinoff 1994, 2006) Water Purification NASA engineers are collaborating with qualified companies to develop a complex system of devices intended to sustain the astronauts living on the International Space Station and, in the future, those who go on to explore the Moon. This system, tentatively scheduled for launch in 2008, will make use of available resources by turning wastewater from respiration, sweat, and urine into drinkable water. Commercially, this system is benefiting people all over the world who need affordable, clean water. By combining the benefits of chemical adsorption, ion exchange, and ultra-filtration processes, products using this technology yield safe, drinkable water from the most challenging sources, such as in underdeveloped regions where well water may be heavily contaminated. (Spinoff 1995, 2006) Computer Technology Better Software From real-time weather visualization and forecasting, high-resolution 3-D maps of the Moon and Mars, to real-time tracking of the International Space Station and the space shuttle, NASA is collaborating with Google Inc. to solve a variety of challenging technical problems ranging from large-scale data management and massively distributed computing, to human-computer interfaces—with the ultimate goal of making the vast, scattered ocean of data more accessible and usable. With companies like InterSense, NASA continues to fund and collaborate on other software advancement initiatives benefiting such areas as photo/ video image enhancement, virtual-reality/design, simulation training, and medical applications. (Spinoff 2005) Structural Analysis NASA software engineers have created thousands of computer programs over the decades equipped to design, test, and analyze stress, vibration, and acoustical Spinoff 2008 23 analysis, radiation dosimetry, and as a medical testing device to assess levels of internal swelling and pressure for patients suffering from intracranial pressure and compartment syndrome, a painful condition that results when pressure within muscles builds to dangerous levels. The applications for this device continue to expand. (Spinoff 1978, 2005, 2008) Food Safety Systems Faced with the problem of how and what to feed an astronaut in a sealed capsule under weightless conditions while planning for human space flight, NASA enlisted the aid of The Pillsbury Company to address two principal concerns: eliminating crumbs of food that might contaminate the spacecraft’s atmosphere and sensitive instruments, and assuring absolute freedom from potentially catastrophic disease-producing bacteria and toxins. Pillsbury developed the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) concept, potentially one of the most far-reaching space spinoffs, to address NASA’s second concern. HACCP is designed to prevent food safety problems rather than to catch them after they have occurred. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has applied HACCP guidelines for the handling of seafood, juice, and dairy products. (Spinoff 1991) properties of a broad assortment of aerospace parts and structures (before prototyping even begins). The NASA Structural Analysis Program, or NASTRAN, is considered one of the most successful and widely-used NASA software programs. It has been used to design everything from Cadillacs to roller coaster rides. Originally created for spacecraft design, NASTRAN has been employed in a host of non-aerospace applications and is available to industry through NASA’s Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC). COSMIC maintains a library of computer programs from NASA and other government agencies and offers them for sale at a fraction of the cost of developing a new program, benefiting companies around the world seeking to solve the largest, most difficult engineering problems. (Spinoff 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1998) Refrigerated Internet-Connected Wall Ovens Embedded Web Technology (EWT) software—originally developed by NASA for use by astronauts operating experiments on available laptops from anywhere on the International Space Station—lets a user monitor and/or control a device remotely over the Internet. NASA supplied this technology and guidance to TMIO LLC, who went on to develop a low-cost, real-time remote control and monitoring of a new intelligent oven product named “ConnectIo.” With combined cooling and heating capabilities, ConnectIo provides the convenience of being able to store cold food where it will remain properly refrigerated until a customized pre-programmable cooking cycle begins. The menu allows the user to simply enter the dinner time, and the oven automatically switches from refrigeration to the cooking cycle, so that the meal will be ready as the family arrives home for dinner. (Spinoff 2005) Industrial Productivity Powdered Lubricants NASA’s scientists developed a solid lubricant coating material that is saving the manufacturing industry millions of dollars. Developed as a shaft coating to be deposited by thermal spraying to protect foil air bearings used in oil-free turbomachinery, like gas turbines, this advanced coating, PS300, was meant to be part of a larger project: an oil-free aircraft engine capable of operating at high temperatures with increased reliability, lowered weight, reduced maintenance, and increased power. PS300 improves efficiency, lowers friction, reduces emissions, and has been used by NASA in advanced aeropropulsion engines, refrigeration compressors, turbochargers, and hybrid electrical turbogenerators. ADMA Products has found widespread industrial applications for the material. (Spinoff 2005) Improved Mine Safety An ultrasonic bolt elongation monitor developed by a NASA scientist for testing tension and high-pressure loads on bolts and fasteners has continued to evolve over the past three decades. Today, the same scientist and Luna Innovations are using a digital adaptation of this same device for a plethora of different applications, including non-destructive evaluation of railroad ties, groundwater R&D 100 The R&D 100 Awards were established in 1963 to pick the 100 most technologically significant new products invented each year. For 45 years, the prestigious R&D 100 Awards have been helping provide new products with the needed recognition for success in the marketplace. Winning an R&D 100 Award provides a mark of excellence known to industry, government, and academia. Space Technology Hall of Fame The Space Foundation and NASA created the Space Technology Hall of Fame in 1988. The award recognizes the life-changing technologies emerging from America’s space programs; honors the scientists, engineers, and innovators responsible; and communicates to the American public the significance of these technologies as a return on investment in their Space Program. NASA Technology Award Winners 24 Spinoff 2008 NASA Invention of the Year Since 1990, to recognize inventors of exceptional, cutting-edge NASA technologies, the NASA Inventions and Contributions Board has rewarded outstanding scientific and technical contributions through the NASA Invention of the Year Award. NASA Software of the Year Established in 1994, the NASA Software of the Year Award is given to those programmers and developers who have created outstanding software for the Agency. Since its inception in 1976, Spinoff has featured myriad award-winning technologies that have been recognized by NASA and industry as forerunners in innovation. Here is a chronology of these winners, including the year(s) they were featured in Spinoff and the year they were awarded one (or more) of the following: Spinoff 2008 25 26 Spinoff 2008 Spinoff 2008 27 28 Spinoff 2008 Spinoff 2008 29 Executive Summary In accordance with congressional mandates cited in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 and the Technology Utilization Act of 1962, NASA was directed to encourage greater use of the Agency’s knowledge. For 50 years, NASA has nurtured partnerships with the private sector to facilitate the transfer of NASA-developed technologies. The benefits of these partnerships have reached throughout the economy and around the globe, as the resulting commercial products contributed to the development of services and technologies in the fields of health and medicine, transportation, public safety, consumer goods, environmental resources, computer technology, and industry. Health and Medicine Robotics Offer Newfound Surgical Capabilities Barrett Technology Inc., of Cambridge, Massachusetts, completed three Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts with Johnson Space Center, during which the company developed and commercialized three core technologies: a robotic arm, a hand that functions atop the arm, and a motor driver to operate the robotics. Among many industry uses, a recent adaptation of the arm has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in a minimally invasive knee surgery procedure, where its precision control makes it ideal for inserting a very small implant. page 46 In-Line Filtration Improves Hygiene and Reduces Expense MRLB International Inc., of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, designed the DentaPure waterline purification cartridge using water purification research conducted by Umpqua Research Company, of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, as part of SBIR contracts from Johnson Space Center. Various models now address a variety of needs, and are used in dental offices and dental schools across the country. Currently the only waterline system recognized by the FDA as a medical device which meets all known standards and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an antimicrobial device, DentaPure has also been utilized by the U.S. Air Force. page 48 LED Device Illuminates New Path to Healing Quantum Devices Inc., of Barneveld, Wisconsin, was granted a NASA SBIR contract to develop an LED light source for use in a surgical environment. Several SBIR contracts from Marshall Space Flight Center helped develop the High Emissivity Aluminiferous Light-emitting Substrate (HEALS), then successfully applied it in cases of pediatric brain tumors and the prevention of oral mucositis in pediatric bone marrow transplant patients. The HEALS and subsequent WARP 10 technologies have won many awards, including a “Tibbets Award.” Recently, the nextgeneration device, the WARP 75, was released. page 50 Polymer Coats Leads on Implantable Medical Device Langley Research Center’s Soluble Imide was licensed by Medtronic Inc., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, for use as insulation on thin metal wires connected to its implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, for patients experiencing heart failure. The devices resynchronize the contractions of the heart’s ventricles by sending tiny electrical impulses to the heart muscle, helping the heart pump blood throughout the body more efficiently. page 52 Lockable Knee Brace Speeds Rehabilitation Gary Horton, owner and operator of Horton’s Orthotic Lab Inc., in Little Rock, Arkansas, was visiting Marshall Space Flight Center when he unexpectedly received assistance with a knee brace he was designing. Marshall engineers shared with him designs they had developed for a lockable joint with a hinge brake. Horton licensed the technology from Marshall and then set about applying the design concept to a new type of orthotic, a knee brace that automatically unlocks during the swinging phase of walking, but then is able to reengage for stability upon heel strike. page 54 Robotic Joints Support Horses and Humans Cable-compliant joints developed at Goddard Space Flight Center provided the key elements in the NASA Equine Support Technology (N.E.S.T.). The device supports a horse’s weight with a special harness and controls the pelvis without restricting hip movement. Enduro Medical Technologies, of South Windsor, Connecticut, expects the N.E.S.T. to revolutionize treatment for horses with leg injuries. The human version of the technology, released in 2003, is currently assisting U.S. service personnel Executive Summary NASA Spinoff highlights the Agency’s most significant research and development activities and the successful transfer of NASA technology, showcasing the cutting-edge research being done by the Nation’s top technologists and the practical benefits that come back down to Earth in the form of tangible products that make our lives better. The benefits featured in this year’s issue include: 32 Spinoff 2008 rehabilitating from spinal cord or brain injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, DC. page 56 Photorefraction Screens Millions for Vision Disorders Marshall Space Flight Center scien - tists adapted optics technology for eye screening methods using a process called photorefraction, using a camera system with a specifically angled telephoto lens and flash to photograph a subject’s eye. In 1991, NASA transferred the exclusive license for the system to Vision Research Corporation, of Birmingham, Alabama, and over 3 million children have been screened for vision disorders since. page 58 Periodontal Probe Improves Exams, Alleviates Pain Visual Programs Inc., of Richmond, Virginia, licensed the Periodontal Structures Mapping System from Langley Research Center. The resulting Ultrasonagraphic Probe (USProbe) is a noninvasive tool to make and record differential measure - ments of a patient’s periodontal ligaments. The USProbe automatically detects, maps, and diagnoses problem areas by integrating diagnostic medical ultrasound techniques with advanced artificial intelligence. In addition to solving the problems associ - ated with conventional probing, the USProbe may also provide information on the condition of the gum tissue and the quality and extent of the bond to the tooth surface. page 60 Magnetic Separator Enhances Treatment Possibilities Since 1988, NASA has issued over 25 SBIR contracts with 4 NASA centers to the company now known as Techshot Inc., of Greenville, Indiana. Currently, Techshot and a spinoff company, IKOTech, are marketing the Magsort, a Quadruple Magnetic Sorter, which collects specific biological cells from a liquid suspension by running it through a magnet assembly. Its applications include the detection of rare cancer cells in circulating blood and the removal of undesired cells from bone marrow transplants. page 62 Transportation Lithium Battery Power Delivers Electric Vehicles to Market Hybrid Technologies Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of lithium-ion battery elec - tric vehicles, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and with research and manufacturing facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina, entered into a Space Act Agreement with Kennedy Space Center to determine the utility of lithium-powered fleet vehicles. NASA contributed engineering expertise for the car’s advanced battery management system and tested a fleet of zero-emission vehicles on the Kennedy campus. Hybrid Technologies now offers a series of pur - pose-built lithium electric vehicles dubbed the LiV series, aimed at the urban and commuter markets. page 66 Advanced Control System Increases Helicopter Safety With support and funding from a Phase II NASA SBIR project from Ames Research Center, Hoh Aeronautics Inc. (HAI), of Lomita, California, produced HeliSAS, a low-cost, lightweight, attitude-commandattitude-hold stability augmentation system (SAS) for civil helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. HeliSAS proved itself in over 160 hours of flight testing and demonstrations in a Robinson R44 Raven helicopter, a commercial helicopter popular with news broadcasting and police opera - tions. Chelton Flight Systems, of Boise, Idaho, negotiated with HAI to develop, market, and manufacture HeliSAS, now available as the Chelton HeliSAS Digital Helicopter Autopilot. page 68 Aerodynamics Research Revolutionizes Truck Design During the 1970s and 1980s, research - ers at Dryden Flight Research Center conducted numerous tests to refine the shape of trucks to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve efficiency. During the 1980s and 1990s, a team based at Langley Research Center explored controlling drag and the flow of air around a moving body. Aeroserve Technologies Ltd., of Ottawa, Canada, with its subsidiary, Airtab LLC, in Loveland, Colorado, applied the research from Dryden and Langley to the devel - opment of the Airtab vortex generator. Airtabs create two counter-rotating vortices to reduce wind resistance and aerodynamic drag from trucks, trailers, recreational vehicles, and many other vehicles. page 70 Spinoff 2008 33 Engineering Models Ease and Speed Prototyping System-response models developed by LMS International NV, a Belgium-based company with over 30 offices worldwide including Troy, Michigan, were used to calculate side-wall loads on J-2X nozzles at Marshall Space Flight Center. The J-2X will power the Ares launch vehicle— NASA’s next-generation spacecraft. LMS engineers gained knowledge to be used for engineering applications in a wide range of other industries. By providing onsite sup - port for tests, the LMS technical support and development staff seize opportunities like the work with NASA to expand their knowledge of tests and dynamics in realworld applications. page 74 Software Performs Complex Design Analysis Optimal Solutions Software LLC, of Provo, Utah, and Idaho Falls, Idaho, cre - ates highly innovative engineering design improvement products to enable engineers to more reliably, creatively, and economi - cally design new products in high-value markets. The company entered into an SBIR contract with Stennis Space Center, under which it extensively used its arbitrary shape deformation software to improve pressure loss, velocity, and flow quality in the pipes utilized by NASA. The product is available under the trade name Sculptor. page 76 Public Safety Space Suit Technologies Protect Deep-Sea Divers Paragon Space Development Corporation is a Tucson, Arizona-based firm spe - cializing in aerospace engineering and technology development, and is a major supplier of environmental control and life support system and subsystem design for the aerospace industry. Through its work with NASA, the company has developed a suit for protecting divers who are called on to work in extreme and dangerous condi - tions, such as high pressure, toxic chemical spills, the hot waters of the Persian Gulf, and chemical warfare agents. page 80 Fiber Optic Sensing Monitors Strain and Reduces Costs Luna Technologies, a division of Luna Inno - vations Incorporated, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, licensed technologies developed at Langley Research Center as part of the ultrasonic dynamic vector stress sensor. Luna released the Optical Vector Analyzer (OVA), Distributed Sensing System (DSS), and the Optical Backscatter Reflectometer (OBR) platforms. The OVA platform fiber optic sensing instruments include a set for linear characterization of single-mode optical components. The DSS and OBR platforms are two different techniques for distributed sensing: the DSS uses Fiber Bragg Gratings, and the OBR uses standard telecom-grade optical fiber. page 82 Polymer Fabric Protects Firefighters, Military, and Civilians In 1967, NASA contracted with Celanese Corporation, of New York, to develop a line of PBI textiles for use in space suits and vehicles. In 2005, the PBI fiber and poly - mer business was sold to PBI Performance Products Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina, under the ownership of the InterTech Group, of North Charleston, South Carolina. PBI Performance Products now offers two distinct lines: PBI, the original heat and flame resistant fiber; and Celazole, a family of high-temperature PBI polymers available in true polymer form. PBI is now used in numerous firefighting, military, motor sports, and other applications. page 84 Advanced X-Ray Sources Ensure Safe Environments Ames Research Center awarded inXitu Inc. (formerly Microwave Power Technology), of Mountain View, California, an SBIR contract to develop a new design of electron optics for forming and focusing electron beams that is applicable to a broad class of vacuum electron devices. This technology offers an inherently rugged and more efficient X-ray source for mate - rial analysis; a compact and rugged X-ray source for smaller rovers on future Mars missions; and electron beam sources to reduce undesirable emissions from small, widely distributed pollution sources, and remediation of polluted sites. page 86 34 Spinoff 2008 Consumer, Home, and Recreation Wireless Fluid-Level Measurement System Equips Boat Owners While developing a measurement acquisi - tion system to be used to retrofit aging aircraft with vehicle health monitoring capabilities, Langley Research Center developed an innovative wireless fluid-level measurement system. The NASA technol - ogy was of interest to Tidewater Sensors LLC, of Newport News, Virginia, because of its many advantages over conventional fuel management systems, including its ability to provide an accurate measurement of volume while a boat is experiencing any rocking motion due to waves or people moving about on the boat. These advantages led the company to license this novel fluid-level measurement system from NASA for marine applications. page 90 Mars Cameras Make Panoramic Photography a Snap The Mars rover Panoramic Mast Assemblies inspired scientists at Ames Research Center and Carnegie Mellon University to find more “down-to-Earth” photographic and virtual exploration applications for consum - ers. With the Austin, Texas-based Charmed Labs LLC, scientists created a prototype for the Gigapan robotic platform for consumer cameras, which automates the creation of highly detailed digital panoramas. The scientists also created a Web site and pho - tographic stitching software to accompany the Gigapan platform. page 92 Experiments Advance Gardening at Home and in Space NASA research with BioServe Space Technologies and AgriHouse Inc., devel - oping aeroponic gardening for space flight, inspired an innovative home gardening appliance. AeroGrow International Inc., of Boulder, Colorado, designed and released the AeroGarden line of countertop gardens based on NASA studies. One element, the Seed Pod, has since been used by BioServe as part of an experiment on the International Space Station, as its design would protect tomato seeds and prevent premature germination. page 94 Space Age Swimsuit Reduces Drag, Breaks Records Because of Langley Research Center’s experience in studying the forces of friction and drag, Los Angeles-based SpeedoUSA asked the Agency to help design a swimsuit shortly after the 2004 Olympics. The LZR Racer reduces skin friction drag 24 percent more than the previous Speedo racing suit. The research seems to have paid off; in March 2008, athletes wearing the LZR Racer broke 13 world records. page 96 Immersive Photography Renders 360º Views An SBIR contract through Langley Research Center helped Interactive Pictures Corporation, of Knoxville, Tennessee, create an innovative imaging technology. This technology is a video imaging process that allows real-time control of live video data and can provide users with interactive, panoramic 360° views. The camera system can see in multiple directions, provide up to four simultaneous views, each with its own tilt, rotation, and magnification, yet it has no moving parts, is noiseless, and can respond faster than the human eye. In addition, it eliminates the distortion caused by a fisheye lens, and provides a clear, flat view of each perspective. page 98 Historic Partnership Captures Our Imagination Victor Hasselblad AB, of Gothenburg, Sweden, has enjoyed a long-lived collabora - tion with NASA, especially Johnson Space Center. For over four decades, Hasselblad has supplied camera equipment to the NASA Space Program, and Hasselblad cameras still take on average between 1,500 and 2,000 photographs on each space shut - tle mission. Collaboration with NASA has allowed a very small company to achieve worldwide recognition—Hasselblad’s oper - ations now include centers in Parsippany, New Jersey; and Redmond, Washington; as well as France and Denmark—and consumer camera models have featured improvements resulting from refinements for the space models. page 100 Outboard Motor Maximizes Power and Dependability Developed by Jonathan Lee, a structural materials engineer at Marshall Space Flight Center, and PoShou Chen, a scientist with Huntsville, Alabama-based Morgan Research Corporation, MSFC-398 is a high-strength aluminum alloy able to operate at high temperatures. MSFC-398 Spinoff 2008 35 was licensed for marine applications by Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., and is now found in the complete line of Evinrude E-TEC outboard motors, a line of two-stroke motors that maintain the power and dependability of a two-stroke with the refinement of a four-stroke. page 104 Space Research Fortifies Nutrition Worldwide NASA’s Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems program attempted to address basic needs of crews, meet stringent payload and power usage restrictions, and minimize space occupancy, by developing living, regenerative ecosystems that would take care of themselves and their inhabitants. An experiment from this program evolved into one of the most widespread NASA spinoffs of all time—a method for manu - facturing an algae-based food supplement that provides the nutrients previously only available in breast milk. Martek Biosciences Corporation, in Columbia, Maryland, now manufactures this supplement, and it can be found in over 90 percent of the infant formulas sold in the United States, as well as those sold in over 65 other countries. With such widespread use, the company estimates that over 24 million babies worldwide have consumed its nutritional additives. page 106 Aerogels Insulate Missions and Consumer Products Aspen Aerogels, of Northborough, Massachusetts, worked with NASA through an SBIR contract with Kennedy Space Center to develop a robust, flexible form of aerogel for cryogenic insulation for space shuttle launch applications. The company has since used the same manufacturing process developed under the SBIR award to expand its product offerings into the more commercial realms, making the naturally fragile aerogel available for the first time as a material that can be handled and installed just like standard insulation. page 108 Environmental and Agricultural Resources Computer Model Locates Environmental Hazards Catherine Huybrechts Burton founded San Francisco-based Endpoint Environmental (2E) LLC in 2005 while she was a stu - dent intern and project manager at Ames Research Center with NASA’s DEVELOP program. The 2E team created the Tire Identification from Reflectance Model, which algorithmically processes satellite images using turnkey technology to retain only the darkest parts of an image. This model allows 2E to locate piles of rubber tires, which often are stockpiled illegally and cause hazardous environmental condi - tions and fires. page 112 Battery Technology Stores Clean Energy Headquartered in Fremont, California, Deeya Energy Inc. is now bringing its flow batteries to commercial customers around the world after working with former Marshall Space Flight Center scientist, Lawrence Thaller. Deeya’s liquid-cell bat - teries have higher power capability than Thaller’s original design, are less expensive than lead-acid batteries, are a clean energy alternative, and are 10 to 20 times less expensive than nickel-metal hydride bat - teries, lithium-ion batteries, and fuel cell options. page 114 Robots Explore the Farthest Reaches of Earth and Space Deep Ocean Engineering (DOE) Inc., of San Leandro, California, received several SBIR awards from NASA to develop remotely operated vehicle (ROV) tech - nologies with Ames Research Center. DOE engineers developed a concept for a versa - tile and robust locomotion methodology based on snake and worm morphologies. This “super snake” has the ability to transi - tion seamlessly from one environment to another, such as land to water to burrow - ing into soft sediment. DOE ROVs are in use by U.S. armed forces, Hydro Quebec, and more than 40 universities and scien - tific organizations. page 116 Portable Nanomesh Creates Safer Drinking Water In 2003, Seldon Technologies Inc., of Windsor, Vermont, began designing a carbon Nanomesh for filtering impurities from drinking water. Testing in EPAcertified facilities showed that Seldon’s filters removed more than 99 percent of bacteria and viruses, numerous chemical contaminants, and endotoxins, such as Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Salmonella. Using a carbon Nanomesh, the WaterStick filters about 5 gallons (200 milliliters) of water a minute simply using water pres - sure and gravity—without electricity, 36 Spinoff 2008 heat, chemical additives, or environmental impact. page 118 Innovative Stemless Valve Eliminates Emissions Big Horn Valve Inc. (BHVI), of Sheridan, Wyoming, won a series of SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts with Kennedy Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center to explore and develop a revolutionary valve technology. BHVI developed a low-mass, high-efficiency, leak-proof cryogenic valve using composites and exotic metals, and had no stem-actuator, few moving parts, with an overall cylindrical shape. The valve has been installed at a methane coal gas field, and future applications are expected to include in-flight refueling of military aircraft, high-volume gas delivery systems, petroleum refining, and in the nuclear industry. page 120 Web-Based Mapping Puts the World at Your Fingertips NASA’s award-winning Earth Resources Laboratory Applications Software (ELAS) package was developed at Stennis Space Center. Since 1978, ELAS has been used worldwide for processing satellite and air - borne sensor imagery data of the Earth’s surface into readable and usable informa - tion. DATASTAR Inc., of Picayune, Mississippi, has used ELAS software in the DATASTAR Image Processing Exploitation (DIPEx) desktop and Internet image processing, analysis, and manipula - tion software. The new DIPEx Version III includes significant upgrades and improvements compared to its esteemed predecessor. A true World Wide Web application, this product evolved with worldwide geospatial dimensionality and numerous other improvements that seam - lessly support the Web version. page 122 Computer Technology Program Assists Satellite Designers Annapolis, Maryland-based designAmerica Inc., a small aerospace company special - izing in the development and delivery of ground control systems for satellites and instrumentation, assisted Goddard Space Flight Center in the development of the ASIST software, a real-time command and control system for spacecraft develop - ment, integration, and operations. It was designed to be fully functional across a broad spectrum of satellites and instrumen - tation, while also being user friendly. The company now has rights to commercial use of the program and is offering it to govern - ment and industry satellite designers. page 126 Water-Based Coating Simplifies Circuit Board Manufacturing The Polymers Branch at Glenn Research Center’s extensive knowledge of polyimide chemistry and its expertise in the synthesis of ultraviolet light curable polyimides were the critical components that allowed Advanced Coatings International, of Akron, Ohio, to prototype the platform chemistry for a polyimide-based, waterborne, liquid photoimagable coating ideal for the manufacture of printed circuit boards. page 127 Software Schedules Missions, Aids Project Management Through several long-term SBIR con - tracts, Knowledge-Based Systems Inc. (KBSI), of College Station, Texas, devel - oped three advanced system management softwares: WorkSim, Model Mosaic, and AIOXFinder. Used independently or as a suite, these programs help manage complex projects and have been applied to several NASA missions. page 128 Software Analyzes Complex Systems in Real Time VIASPACE Inc., of Pasadena, California, licensed the Spacecraft Health Inference Engine (SHINE) software from NASA. It was designed to monitor, analyze, and diagnose real-time and non-real-time sys - tems and, in addition to having been used on at least eight major NASA missions, has found application in the military and industrial realms. page 130 Wireless Sensor Network Handles Image Data Vexcel Corporation, of Boulder, Colorado, received STTR funding through Goddard Space Flight Center to develop wireless sensor network technology that now aids in the high-speed handling of image data. This technology has uses in both the commercial sector, where it is used to relay satellite imagery to the desktop, and in the government sector, where NASA Spinoff 2008 37 38 Spinoff 2008 is finding continued use in terrestrial and interplanetary studies. page 132 Virtual Reality System Offers a Wide Perspective As part of an SBIR agreement to improve the telepresence of Johnson Space Center’s Robonaut, Baltimore-based Sensics Inc. created a head-mounted display with a high-resolution, three-dimensional pan - orama. The Sensics piSight is now being sold commercially for high-end virtual reality applications. Virtual surroundings appear in the viewfinder and respond to head movements. page 134 Software Simulates Sight: Flat Panel Mura Detection Radiant Imaging Inc., of Duvall, Washington, licensed the Spatial Standard Observer (SSO) software from Ames Research Center. The SSO simulates a simplified model of human spatial vision, operating on a pair of images that are viewed at a specific viewing distance with pixels having a known relation to lumi - nance. The SSO software was used to develop the TrueMURA Analysis Module, incorporated into Radiant Imaging’s ProMetric 9.1 system. When used in con - junction with the ProMetric Series Imaging Colorimeters, the new software module provides a complete characterization and testing system for flat panel displays, espe - cially LCD panels and displays. page 136 Inductive System Monitors Tasks The Inductive Monitoring System is software developed at Ames Research Center that uses artificial intelligence and data mining techniques to build systemmonitoring knowledge bases from archived or simulated sensor data. This information is then used to detect unusual or anomalous behavior that may indicate an impending system failure. iSagacity Inc., based out of Portland, Maine, executed a nonexclusive license and is now offering it for use for water treatment plants, water heating and cooling in the process industry, oil refiner - ies, public water distribution, and power generation plants. page 138 Mars Mapping Technology Brings Main Street to Life Berkeley, California-based earthmine inc., licensed 3-D data-generation software and algorithms from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory originally used to create a 3-D representation of the local terrain to allow autonomous routing of the Mars Exploration Rovers. earthmine combined the software and algorithms with its unique capture hardware and Web deliv - ery technology in a system that integrates the information to deliver accurate streetlevel geospatial data through a Web-based interface. Complete municipalities are collected through high-quality, 3-D pan - oramic images—including every road, alley, and freeway—to create a complete, con - sistent, and publicly accessible geospatial view of cities for official and commercial applications. page 140 Intelligent Memory Module Overcomes Harsh Environments 3D Plus USA Inc., of McKinney, Texas, licensed Radiation Tolerant Intelligent Memory Stack technology from Langley Research Center for systems and methods to detect a failure event in field program - mable gate arrays. In partnership with Langley, 3D Plus developed the first high-density and fast access time memory module tolerant of space radiation effects. This module decreases design complex - ity for space-based electronics requiring memory with its simple interface and internal radiation tolerance management. Expected applications include commercial or scientific geostationary missions and deep space scientific exploration, and high-reliability computing in other radia - tion-intensive environments like nuclear facilities. page 142 Integrated Circuit Chip Improves Network Efficiency Under a 2002 Space Act Agreement, Rockville, Maryland-based BAE Systems Inc. worked with Goddard Space Flight Center to create a SpaceWire-based application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip for bridging existing space electronics and Goddard’s new linkand-switch routers. BAE Systems’ ASIC integrates easily into an onboard system and also decreases the part count, overall system complexity, ongoing costs, and power requirements for the system’s board while also improving speed and reliability. page 144 Spinoff 2008 39 Industrial Productivity Novel Process Revolutionizes Welding Industry Glenn Research Center, Delphi Corporation, and the Michigan Research Institute entered into a project to study the use of Deformation Resistance Welding (DRW) in the construction and repair of stationary structures with multiple geometries and dissimilar materials, such as those NASA might use on the Moon or Mars. Traditional welding technologies are burdened by significant business and engi - neering challenges, including high costs of equipment and labor, heat-affected zones, limited automation, and inconsistent qual - ity. DRW addresses each of those issues, while drastically reducing welding, manu - facturing, and maintenance costs. page 148 Sensors Increase Productivity in Harsh Environments California’s San Juan Capistrano-based Endevco Corporation licensed three patents for high-temperature, harshenvironment silicon carbide (Si-C) pressure sensors from Glenn Research Center. The company is exploring their use in government markets, as well as in com - mercial markets, including commercial jet testing, deep well-drilling applications where pressure and temperature increase with depth, and in automobile combustion chambers. page 150 Portable Device Analyzes Rocks and Minerals inXitu Inc., of Mountain View, California, entered into a Phase II SBIR contract with Ames Research Center to develop technol - ogies for the next generation of scientific instruments for materials analysis. The work resulted in a sample handling system that could find a wide range of applica - tions in research and industrial laboratories as a means to load powdered samples for analysis or process control. Potential industries include chemical, cement, inks, pharmaceutical, ceramics, and forensics. Additional applications include character - izing materials that cannot be ground to a fine size, such as explosives and research pharmaceuticals. page 152 NASA Design Strengthens Welds Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solidstate joining process—a combination of extruding and forging—ideal for use when the original metal characteristics must remain as unchanged as possible. While exploring ways to improve the use of FSW in manufacturing, engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center created technologies to address the method’s shortcomings. MTS Systems Corporation, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, discovered the NASA-developed technology and then signed a co-exclusive license agreement to commercialize Marshall’s design for use in high-strength structural alloys. The result - ing process offers the added bonuses of being cost-competitive, efficient, and most importantly, versatile. page 154 Polyimide Boosts HighTemperature Performance Maverick Corporation, of Blue Ash, Ohio, licensed DMBZ-15 polyimide technol - ogy from Glenn Research Center. This ultrahigh-temperature material provides substantial weight savings and reduced machining costs compared to the same component made with more traditional metallic materials. DMBZ-15 has a wide range of applications from aerospace (air - craft engine and airframe components, space transportation systems, and missiles) to non-aerospace (oil drilling, rolling mill), and is particularly well-suited to use as face sheets with honeycombs or thermal protec - tion systems for reusable launch vehicles, which encounter elevated temperatures during launch and reentry. page 156 NASA Innovation Builds Better Nanotubes Nanotailor Inc., based in Austin, Texas, licensed Goddard Space Flight Center’s unique single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) fabrication process with plans to make high-quality, low-cost SWCNTs available commercially. Carbon nanotubes are being used in a wide variety of applica - tions, and NASA’s improved production method will increase their applicability in medicine, microelectronics, advanced materials, and molecular containment. Nanotailor built and tested a prototype based on Goddard’s process, and is using this technique to lower the cost and improve the integrity of nanotubes, offer - ing a better product for use in biomaterials, advanced materials, space exploration, highway and building construction, and many other applications. page 158 Satellites and Imaging Technology Space Telescopes and Deep Space Exploration International Space Station Transportation Deliver electric vehicles to market page 66 Increase helicopter safety page 68 Revolutionize truck design page 70 Ease and speed prototyping page 74 Perform complex design analysis page 76 NASA Technologies Enhance Our Lives Innovative technologies from NASA’s space and aeronautics missions (above) transfer as benefits to many sectors of society (below). Each benefit featured in Spinoff 2008 is listed with an icon that corresponds to the mission from which the technology originated. These NASA-derived technologies, when transferred to the public sector: Health and Medicine Offer newfound surgical capabilities page 46 Improve hygiene and reduce expense page 48 Illuminate new paths to healing page 50 Coat leads on implantable medical devices page 52 Speed rehabilitation page 54 Support horses and humans page 56 Screen millions for vision disorders page 58 Improve exams, alleviate pain page 60 Enhance treatment possibilities page 62 Public Safety Protect deep-sea divers page 80 Monitor strain and reduce cost page 82 Protect firefighters, military, and civilians page 84 Ensure safe environments page 86 Consumer, Home, and Recreation Equip boat owners page 90 Make panoramic photography a snap page 92 Advance gardening at home and in space page 94 Reduce drag, break records page 96 Render 360º views page 98 Capture our imagination page 100 Maximize power and dependability page 104 Fortify nutrition worldwide page 106 Insulate missions and consumer products page 108 Space Transportation Astronaut Life Support Aeronautics Research Computer Technology Assist satellite designers page 126 Simplify circuit board manufacturing page 127 Schedule missions, aid project management page 128 Analyze complex systems in real time page 130 Handle image data page 132 Offer a wide perspective page 134 Simulate sight page 136 Monitor tasks page 138 Bring Main Street to life page 140 Overcome harsh environments page 142 Improve network efficiency page 144 Industrial Productivity Revolutionize the welding industry page 148 Increase productivity in harsh environments page 150 Analyze rocks and minerals page 152 Strengthen welds page 154 Boost high-temperature performance page 156 Build better nanotubes page 158 Environmental and Agricultural Resources Locate environmental hazards page 112 Store clean energy page 114 Explore the farthest reaches of Earth and space page 116 Create safer drinking water page 118 Eliminate emissions page 120 Put the world at your fingertips page 122 NASA Technologies Benefiting Society The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 required that NASA disseminate its information to the public, and the Technology Utilization Act of 1962 formalized the process through which the Agency was to accomplish this task. Today, NASA continues to seek industry partnerships to develop technologies that apply to NASA mission needs, provide direct societal benefits, and contribute to competitiveness in global markets. As part of NASA’s mission, the Agency facilitates the transfer and commercialization of NASA-sponsored research and technology. These efforts not only support NASA, they enhance the quality of life in our hospitals, homes, and communities.