NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Do you think NASA is just for rocket scientists and astronauts? Well, think again. Besides sending people into space, some NASA technology has been used to make life more enjoyable. The following are some NASA spinoffs. A spinoff is NASA technology that has been used for a new purpose. Different companies use NASA ideas to make products that they sell to consumers. Many of the products are useful for safety, communication, medical and other science purposes. But others make our lives fun.

	Nerf Glider Toy designers at Hasbro wanted to create a foam glider that a child could fly. But as they worked, it was quickly discovered that the gliders didn't fly so well. The toy designers contacted NASA for help. The engineers gave them tips on how wing design and shape are important to how gliders fly. The toy designers also received hands-on training on the science of designing and flying gliders.
	Computer Joysticks You can now play computer games with all the care needed for a safe and soft Space Shuttle landing. A joystick for computer games was modeled after controls used in Space Shuttle simulators. Astronauts used the joystick to practice landing and steering the Space Shuttle.
	Helmet Padding It's late in the fourth quarter. The home team trails by four points. The star halfback gets a handoff and heads straight up the middle. WHAM! He's met by the middle linebacker in a ground-shaking head-on collision! OUCH! Is the halfback hurt? Will he get up to carry on the fight for his team? Yes, there he is! On the next play, the halfback receives a handoff, rolls out and throws a pass to the tight end who runs across the goal line. Touchdown! The crowd goes wild. Everybody's so excited they do not think about how helmet padding made from aircraft passenger seats -- developed by NASA -- cushioned the halfback's head. Later in the week in the same stadium, baseball and soccer teams will use the same NASA technology in chest protectors and shin guards.
	Ski Boot When astronauts work outside of the Space Shuttle, they must be able to move from side to side and front to back. But they must do it without moving the placement of their feet. The Flexon concept is a form of the accordion-like look of a space suit joint that lets astronauts move around more easily. This concept was used to develop a ski boot that allows easy movement and a better fit.
	Bike Helmet Who would have ever thought that technology used on World War II fighter aircraft would be used decades later to improve the safety of bicycle riders? Old bike helmets were more than just unattractive. They were heavy and caused riders to feel warm once they began to generate body heat. The inventor of the Giro bike helmet called NASA for assistance. Using technology developed for fighter aircraft during the 1940s, Giro made a lightweight helmet designed to improve riders' safety and let them ride faster. The helmet has air vents in the front and back to pull cool air inside.
	Ribbed Swimsuit Did you know that swimmers can wear swimsuits that make them swim faster? NASA invented "riblets." These are small grooves that can be placed on the surface of airplanes. When these "riblets" are used on a swimsuit, they reduce skin friction. This makes a swimmer glide through the water more easily. The ribbed swimsuit has been tested to be 10-15 percent faster than any other world-class swimsuit. In the 1995 Pan American Games, swimmers wearing the ribbed swimsuits won 13 gold medals, 3 silver and 1 bronze.
	Football Stadiums Fans of the NFL's Detroit Lions don't worry about game day weather. Material used in the Apollo space suits was adapted to create the roof of Pontiac Stadium and other stadiums. The material can survive the effects of the weather and sunlight and can go a long time without being replaced.
	Golf Balls It is every golfer's dream to hit a hole-in-one or a birdie. The Wilson Sporting Goods Company studied the Space Shuttle's orange external tank. Wilson used this technology for their Ultra 500 golf ball to create "the most symmetrical ball surface available." The selection of dimples and their placement on the ball helps the ball travel longer distances.

 
So, which spinoffs are you familiar with? Have you used any? The next time you do, remember that NASA is more than just rocket science.
 
Adapted from NASAsolutions Education Projects