ZING's SCEN103 Web Project - The Space Program HOME
Apollo Apollo-Soyuz Mercury Gemini Skylab Shuttle Mir Spin-off Technology
Spin-Off Technology

 
So much has been invented for space exploration.  A lot of the aerospace technology trickles down to the public.  Information developed by space scientists affects air conditioners, automatic controls, materials, dynamics, fuel cells, electronics, robotics, medicine, and many other high technology fields.  Many new types of plastics were used in all types of ways.  Lightweight metals to build frames of spaceflight vehicles were also invented.  These lightweight metals are used in machines, cars, and other things.  Carbon fibre has been found to have remarkable properties that allow it to stand up to extreme heat.  Now it is used to replace metal in turbine blades.

 
 
 

        Courtesy NASA Spinoff		 The NASA site has a whole section dedicated to spin-off ideas.  Also they publish a magazine once a year with all of the new things invented using space technology.
 
 

                                       NASA Spin-Off site

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some interesting recent Spin-offs:

IN THE SHIPYARDS...
NASA robotics technology has led to a device that strips paint from the hulls of ships.  The robotic device is magnetized to the ship and uses high-pressure jet streams to blast the old paint off of the hull.  No pollutants are given off because a vacuum collects all water and paint.  This cleaning method may change how paint is removed in the shipping industry because the current paint removal methods can contaminate the water and is harmful to the workers.waters surrounding harbors.  This and other products developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA; the Robotics Engineering Consortium at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; and UltraStrip Systems, Inc., Stuart, FL could possibly be used for automated harvesting, coal mining, earth moving, material transport, robotic inspection, repair for gas pipelines, and agricultural spraying.

BEHIND THE MAKEUP COUNTER...
NASA’s 1999 Commercial Invention of the Year is a thermoplastic.  This product will, in the future, be used in lipstick and as a protectant for art and circuit boards.  The thermoplastic invented for use in space protects against ultraviolet radiation.  Also, when used in a solid form can resist temperature.

FOR THE CHILDREN...
Children with light sensitivity disorders like porphryia, a genetic disorder that causes extreme blistering, inflammation of nerves, abdominal pain and other disturbances when there is exposure to the sun, can now go outside with the help of NASA.  The children can go outside while wearing astronaut suits because it protects them from the sunlight.

a SCEN103 Project
Last Updated May 12, 2000