NASA Tech Spinoffs: Web Articles
Entrepreneurs Enter the Commercial Space Race | NYTimes.com
At the Bigelow Aerospace factory here, the full-size space station mockups sitting on the warehouse floor look somewhat like puffy white watermelons. The interiors offer a hint of what spacious living in space might look like.
“Every astronaut we have come in here just says, ‘Wow,’ ” said Robert T. Bigelow, the company founder. “They can’t believe the size of this thing.” Four years from now, the company plans for real modules to be launched and assembled into the solar system’s first private space station. Paying customers — primarily nations that do not have the money or expertise to build a space program from scratch — would arrive a year later.
An Inflatable Space Station
Private space stations edge closer to reality - Space.com/msnbc.com
"With two prototype modules for a commercial space station already circling the Earth, Bigelow Aerospace is gearing up for a full-scale assault on space.
For the upstart firm, it's about volume — and not entirely in the sense of quantity or number of items sold. The company's expandable module designs are designed to offer low-cost commercial volume in space — for rent or lease — not only to private-sector interests, but also to national space agencies."
This is a recent update on Robert Bigelow's strategy for commercial space habitat applications. It confirms earlier speculations about his development of human life support systems and living accommodations. Jobs for a couple of ex-astronauts are open.
The Fall of the Maya: "They Did it to Themselves" | Science@NASA
"For 1200 years, the Maya dominated Central America. At their peak around 900 A.D., Maya cities teemed with more than 2,000 people per square mile -- comparable to modern Los Angeles County. But suddenly, all was quiet. The profound silence testified to one of the greatest demographic disasters in human prehistory -- the demise of the once vibrant Maya society.
So, what happened? Some NASA-funded researchers think they have a pretty good idea. "They did it to themselves," says veteran archeologist Tom Sever. He and his team used computer simulations to reconstruct how the deforestation could have played a role in worsening the drought. They isolated the effects of deforestation using a pair of proven computer climate models: the PSU/NCAR mesoscale atmospheric circulation model, known as MM5, and the Community Climate System Model, or CCSM. The models predict that deforestation could have raised the temperature 3-5 deg F. and caused a drop of 20-3-% in rainfall. There is strong evidence of drought and mass graves were identified suggesting thirst, famine and conflict. NASA-related earth observation technologies helped to solve this long-time mystery.
Communication Key to Engaging the Public on Importance of Space | House of Reps.
“[On the 40th anniversary of the Apollo lunar landing]...It’s of course fitting that we pause to honor those who blazed the trail that leads out beyond low Earth orbit—both the brave astronauts who undertook those hazardous expeditions to the Moon and the countless individuals and organizations who enabled those expeditions to succeed,” said Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). “Yet, by definition our civil space program is about the future—not the past. If our space program is to have a sustainable and productive future, it is also about relevance. That is, America’s civil space program must be relevant to our broad national needs if it is going to continue to be supported.”
Technology for Pilots & Astronauts Applied to Sports | NASA Vodcast
NASA has developed much dual-use technology both internally and via its Small Business Innovative Research grant program where companies develop advanced technologies for both NASA and commercial applications. Two examples from this NASA Vodcast are listed below.
A NASA-developed ingestible thermometer used to monitor astronauts working in sealed spacesuits for hours during EVAs outside the International Space Station has now been commercialized. It's used to track real-time body temperature in football players to detect and prevent heatstroke which is the 3rd leading cause of death in athletes. A NASA biofeedback system called Zeroing Out Negative Effects (ZONE) was developed to help train pilots to stay alert throughout long flights. It is now used in sports to train a person to put their mind and muscles in sync while performing a specific task, like putting, for instance.
40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Mission Moon Landing: 5 Top Green tech spin-offs
"On [July 20, 2009], which marks the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, by the U.S. Apollo 11 mission astronauts including Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr., the world can reflect on all of the contributions the NASA Space Program has offered to the red hot field of Green technology. A list of five major areas has been compiled where space exploration has enabled various Green elements of society. They are ranked from one through five based on the overall nature of the impact of the related applications associated with each category. The categories are somewhat arbitrary and the applications are by no means a comprehensive list; however, many of the well-known linkages have been identified.""On [July 20, 2009], which marks the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, by the U.S. Apollo 11 mission astronauts including Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr., the world can reflect on all of the contributions the NASA Space Program has offered to the red hot field of Green technology. A list of five major areas has been compiled where space exploration has enabled various Green elements of society. They are ranked from one through five based on the overall nature of the impact of the related applications associated with each category. The categories are somewhat arbitrary and the applications are by no means a comprehensive list; however, many of the well-known linkages have been identified."
9 Ways NASA Can Tackle Climate Change: Scientific American
“NASA could be one of the nation’s most potent weapons in battling climate change. The space agency has conducted decades of research into weather, life-support systems and the atmospheres of other planets providing it with unique skills to address this problem.”
HowStuffWorks - Learn How Everything Works!
This article from the website howstuffworks profiles NASA spinoffs that we use in everyday life, such as invisible braces.
Former NASA KSC Director, Lockheed Martin Manager, now heads Odyssey Moon Ventures
Jay Honeycutt, new head of Odyssey Moon Ventures has signed a Space Act Agreement based on a technical collaboration between the NASA Ames Research Center and his commercial space company. Odyssey Moon Ventures will use NASA’s Common Spacecraft Bus system as part of its Robotic Lunar Lander system designed to conduct lunar exploration of commercial interest. They also hope to win Google’s Lunar Lander X-Prize of US$30M.