Author: Phil Dixon
Date: 09:03:06 06/13/99
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On June 13, 1999 at 11:39:01, Robert Hyatt wrote: >Today's paper had an interesting article on NASA 'spin-offs'. Since some >thought that NASA represented 'wasted spending' I thought I would point out >just a "few" of the documented 1,200 commercialized 'spin-offs'... > >1. smoke detectors, developed for skylab/spacestation. > >2. cordless tools were developed by black and decker under a NASA contract. > >3. water filters (the kind on the kitchen faucet, etc) for the space > program to recycle water products. > >4. newer home insulation materials with higher R-values. > >5. battery testers on the package/battery > >6. A new bathtub faucet using 'memory metal' technology to prevent filling a > tub with dangerously hot water. > >7. A memory metal called "zeemet" used in golf clubs and other metal devices > that have to endure 'impact' and then return to their original shape/form. > >8. flame-retardent fabrics > >9. sunglasses that block blue and UV radiation. > >10. pens that write upside down. > >11. semiconductors (miniaturization) > >12. digital image technology > >13. satellite communication > >14. airplane collision-avoidance radar > >15. devices to prevent aircraft wing icing > >16. fiberglas fabric such as that used to cover the Georgia Dome in atlanta. > >17. lightweight plastic used in airplane seats, football helmets and shoulder > pads was developed at Ames. > >18. cool suits (water flowing thru them) used by race car drivers and people > working in very hot environments. > >19. the shiny 'thermal' metal blankets used in all survival kits today. > >20. CAT scan algorithms came from NASA signal processing/space observation > programs. > >21. Hubble technology has improved early breast cancer detection. > > > >there are another 1179 _documented_ spinoffs, plus thousands more that were not >documented by NASA/fed government. > >I think most would agree that _all_ of the above have added to the quality of >life... > >And that money invested in NASA returned a lot more than money invested in >(say) foreign aid, which is _far_ more than the money ever spent on NASA. No way is NASA money "wasted spending". I couldn't agree with you more on this subject. Many quality of life "improvements" come from gov't R and D spending and projects such as NASA. Thanks for the improvements to Crafty. He is quite strong. Did you notice the game Crafty 16.6 won against Hiarcs 7.32 with Black that I posted a few days back? Regards, Phil
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