Spinoff 2009

On the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, President Obama observed that the remarkable accomplishment “inspired an entire generation of scientists and engineers that ended up really sparking the innovation, the drive, the entrepreneurship, the creativity back here on Earth.” The President went on to note that “it’s very important for us to constantly remember that NASA was not only about feeding our curiosity, that sense of wonder, but also had extraordinary practical applications.” In an earlier speech to the National Academy of Sciences, President Obama again lauded NASA’s practical benefits. “That Apollo program produced technologies that have improved kidney dialysis and water purification systems; sensors to test for hazardous gasses; energy-saving building materials; fire-resistant fabrics used by firefighters and soldiers. More broadly, the enormous investment in that era–in science and technology, in education and research funding–produced a great outpouring of curiosity and creativity, the benefits of which have been incalculable.” The President was referring to the myriad spinoffs that have come out of the Nation’s investment in NASA’s aerospace research, benefits that continue today just as NASA’s missions continue to shape our world. Perhaps no organization has done more to ingrain these investments in our culture than NASA. For 51 years, the Agency’s exploration and research efforts across a wide range of space-related endeavors have benefited people here on Earth. The resulting technologies have provided dramatic new advances in the quality of our lives that have touched not only Americans but also people around the globe. This edition of NASA’s annual Spinoff publication is designed to highlight the Agency's recent work to “research, develop, verify and transfer advanced aeronautics, space, and related technologies.” Some of the more noteworthy NASA-derived technologies included in Spinoff 2009 are: • A star-mapping algorithm developed for the Hubble Space Telescope, now adapted to identify unique pattern markers on animals like whale sharks and polar bears, that is helping ecologists track and study these and other endangered species. • A device NASA invented to study cell growth in simulated weightlessness that is now enabling medical research into treatments for conditions as diverse as heart disease, diabetes, and cirrhosis. • A satellite-respondent buoy used for monitoring currents in the North Pacific that now is used for tracking debris fields on the high seas. • A gravity-loading technology designed to help astronauts stay in shape while in orbit that has been incorporated in an “anti-gravity” treadmill to help ease physical therapy. • Spacesuits incorporating sun-blocking fabric and special cooling systems that have been adapted into clothing offering protection to ordinary beachgoers and patients with light sensitivities. These technologies are all rooted in NASA’s ongoing mission of exploration and discovery. During the past year, the Agency continued to scout our home planet and the rest of the solar system with robotic probes, conducted cutting-edge research aboard the International Space Station, safely flew the Space Shuttle, and made advances in the development of a new generation of human spacecraft and launch systems that eventually will take astronauts back to the Moon and beyond. United States leadership in space and aeronautics research not only helps to improve our lives, but is also critical for keeping America competitive in an ever-changing global economy. This leadership and competitiveness is largely because of the ingenuity and dedication of the men and women of NASA. Their innovation continues to push the limits of our knowledge and technology on Earth and beyond.