50 Ways NASA Changed Our Lives In The Past 50 Years

NASA, that often-maligned federal agency, celebrates its 50th birthday today. Let's take a look at fifty ways the space agency has changed our lives over the past fifty years:

1.The hand-held vacuum cleaner

The cordless miniature vacuum cleaner was born after Black & Decker developed a self-contained portable drill for the Apollo Moon landings between 1963 and 1972. The machine used a specially developed computer program, meaning it used less power to extract core samples from beneath the Moon's surface. That computer programme helped the company develop more battery-powered gadgets, among them, the cordless mini vacuum cleaner.

2.Air-cushioned trainers

In the early 1980s, a process known as "blow rubber moulding" was used to produce space helmets. Using this technology, former Nasa engineer Frank Rudy pitched an idea for an in-trainer shock absorber to the Nike Corporation. He envisaged a trainer with hollow soles filled with shock-absorbing material to cushion the impact of running. Rudy's idea included a pad of interconnected air cells and the resulting trainer was called the Nike Air.

3.Firefighter breathing apparatus

Before 1971, the average weight of breathing apparatus was more than 30 pounds. Carrying the extra weight was so physically gruelling that some firefighters opted to attack flames without any equipment. However, engineers at Nasa adapted the life-support systems used in spacesuits for use by emergency services. Four years later, experts had designed apparatus that weighed a third less and offered better fit and visibility.

Read the full list from the Independent.

Comments

[Beka13]

I live on the Space Coast of Florida and it would be very sad if our community lost NASA....Its so neat watching the shuttle fly up in your backyard....If Sir McGaffalot wins, I think we need to have a back up plan in case this whole Earth thing doesnt work out....

[loki]

have to be careful in what NASA claims to have invented. I know for a fact they have in the past claimed to have even invented Velcro, which most people know is an out right lie. But they dont seem to have a problem claiming things that they didnt do.

[mawrm]

NASA has NEVER claimed to invent Velcro and that's an urban legend that NASA had no part of, just like inventing Tang. NASA simply used Velcro, Tang and other products during space missions.

[mawrm]

NASA has never claimed to invent Velcro. The NASA inventing Velcro, Tang, etc., are urban legends borne out of the fact that NASA used these products during space missions.

[dgscol]

N ASA is a large organization, much larger than the manned space program or the recent Mars program. NASA has grown very large, and many former employees are paid as contract employees, forever. I was surprised to find out that NASA does earth geology, geophysics, and geodynamics, and sends research groups to Antarctica to do glaciology(also done at NSF). No doubt NASA has earth climate specialists (shouldn't they be working for NOAA?), and earthquake specialists (shouldn't they be working for USGS?), etc, etc, etc. NASA seems to do some of what everyone else is doing, and the space program is the front activity.

NSF and NASA have similar problems and they were too large for Ronald Reagan to handle. Both organization in many ways are distinctly non-American. The Finlandization of these organizations started in the 50's, and it has not gotten any better. Clinton openly invited Soviet scientists to the US, and thousands came. When Reagan wanted to launch a satellite into space, NASA headquarters have him the finger, and proceeded to blow up three launches. Reagan also threated to absolve NSF, and you know, I am not sure that would be a bad thing. They are not reforming thmselves, and the process needs freshening. CHANGE!

[mawrm]

Actually, compared to other government agencies, NASA is rather small, less than 20,000 government employees at 9 centers. I will agree with you that the agency has become somewhat bloated with more bureaucrats and managers and less "nerd-centric". BTW, the reason why NASA has geophysicists, climate specialists, etc. is these guys are either using these skills to understand other planets and/or to understand Earth with space-borne sensors. In fact, NASA has helped locate important archaeological sites from space. I do agree with the contract employee problem but you have Congress to thank for that one - NASA as a federal agency is told how many employees it can have and to contract the rest.
I don't know where you get the idea that NASA was "too large" for Reagan or this whole "Finlandization" thing. von Braun's team of German scientists helped launch NASA's space program. There are no "thousands" of Soviet scientists working at NASA - I've visited many NASA centers and rarely encounter folks of Russian descent. Plus, what are you talking NASA giving Reagan and blowing up 3 launches?

[PumaAnn]

I disagree with O's position on eliminating NASA.

*sigh*

[ramper]

As of January of this year the Obama stance is full support for NASA including continued manned missions, education and technology etc. See SpaceRef.com.

[mawrm]

Don't think Obama has EVER entertained the idea of eliminating NASA. He has only said he would like to redefine its mission. Which isn't a bad thing at all, considering how W has royally screwed NASA with his "great Moon and Mars Exploration program" which he has subsequently refused to adequately fund, causing NASA to gut other critical programs to keep his bonehead idea alive. Which really wasn't "original" to begin with but only spurred by the Chinese announcement that they were going to the Moon by 2025 and plus the Columbia tragedy that made it quite obvious that after over 25 years of operating the Space Shuttle launch system (a _developmental vehicle that was NEVER an _operational_ launch system), NASA desperately need a new launch vehicle.

[NeverRepublican]

How DID they stay cool on the moon when the temperature is 225 degrees +!! They must of had one hell of an airconditioner system on board...and those suits they wore were even better for keeping folks comfortable! Supposably we are "going" back in another 10 years...WHY would it take so long from this point???

Yea right...we REALLY DID MAKE IT THERE in 1969.

[ramper]

Go to Astroprofs.com or the dozens of other scientific and independent sites that will answer all you juvenile questions and enlighten you on the more difficult ones.

[mypetmachine]

There is a concept called institutional memory. The fact of the matter is, a lot of those scientists and engineers who got mankind to the moon before are just not with us anymore. And that's only part of the reason why it's taking us 10 years. A whole new space craft needs to be designed and built and tested.

As to how they kept people cool on the moon, they did it the same way they kept them cool in outer space while in Earth orbit performing space walks. Remember, the temperature on the moon (no atmosphere) will be the same as it would be in the void of space.

[mawrm]

You hit the nail on the head. Right now, probably 80% of the NASA engineers helping on the Ares vehicle design have never been involved in a launch vehicle design that has gone from concept to a flying vehicle. And you can thank years of myopic budget cuts and misguided space policy directives from the White House to NASA resulting in many cancelled programs for that. It's so bad that employees joke that you measure how long you've been at NASA by the number of cancelled programs you work.
Another important item that people overlook is that the engineers that built the Saturn V had plenty of practice, from building the Redstone, Jupiter, etc., so it wasn't such a leap to get to the Saturn V in record time. In a sense, NASA is starting from scratch with a third of the manpower on the Ares (remember, NASA has to keep shuttle flying, ISS in operation, etc., in ADDITION to building Ares) and there's going to be a steep learning curve for the engineers, nevermind the more constrictive budget and schedule climate they have to operate in today.

[wadenelson1]

Take some physics classes. There's no air on the moon. The portion of your space suit exposed to the sun might be 225 degrees. Your back, in the shade, would be, oh, say, -94 degrees. All the suit really had to do was balance the temps a bit. Make the suit a bit reflective and most of that sunlight could be bounced off.

It's really not rocket science.

[mawrm]

Ummm... it's a wee bit more complicated than that. Actually space suit design is probably one of the most challenging jobs at NASA. The space suit has to be pressurized, evenly distribute heating/cooling and keep the astronaut at a comfortable temperature. Think of shrinking your home HVAC system into a backpack that can handle the temperature differentials of 400 degrees - home HVAC systems at best can handle 100 degree differentials - to give the astronaut a comfy temp to work in. Plus it must operate uber-efficiently, low/no noise, etc.

[wadenelson1]

NASA had an interesting effect on the South as well.

NASA moved 30,000 scientists and engineers into a sleepy little Southern town called Huntsville.

By the time it was over Huntsville was fully, and peacefully integrated, had a symphony orchestra, an ice rink, and a branch of the University of Alabama with HIGHER admission standards than the main campus.

[mawrm]

Good post!!! Speaking as a New Yorker who moved to Huntsville 5 years ago to work on noted space program, Huntsville is a bit of surprise. NASA plus the Army's Redstone Arsenal here causes Huntsville to have one of the highest concentration of scientists and engineers in the nation. Very "unAlabama" for sure.

[ThinkForYourself2]

Lighting, props, suspension wires and filming at EXACTLY 1/2 speed did a lot to contain communism. Check out the hundreds of Youtube videos while you still can.

Ask yourself this: How can flags wave around on the "moon" when there is no wind?

[ramper]

You cannot be that stupid. Try delving into realty. Educate yourself just a little.

[mypetmachine]

Please go here, immediately, for an explanation from someone, far, far, far more intelligent than you:

http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/tv/foxapollo.html

And here's the same fellow who wrote that talking about the so-called "moon hoax."

http://media.libsyn.com/media/sgu5x5/SGU5x52008-07-20.mp3

[RealityBaseCamp]

ThinkForYourself2 said:
"Lighting, props, suspension wires and filming at EXACTLY 1/2 speed did a lot to contain communism. Check out the hundreds of Youtube videos while you still can.
Ask yourself this: How can flags wave around on the "moon" when there is no wind?"

Ohhh... exactly 1/2 speed? If you were faking ONE SIXTH gravity? Moonhoaxers don't put nearly as much skepticism into analyzing the crackpot claims as they do into disbelieving what they want to disbelieve. How about asking how long a springy flagpole takes to stop moving when there's no air to slow it down? Check out the thousands of actual documents, technical articles and personal accounts, not to mention all the rebuttals of those youtube videos. NASA needs reorganizing, but congratulations on 50 years!

[ramper]

A unique government agency that has returned far more than was ever put into it. One to two cents out of every federal dollar is too little for an agency that produces. During the moon missions it was only three cents. From life saving technology that benefits all humanity (weather satellites, etc. etc. etc.) to the smallest tools you can spend a long time going over those things that this agency has help to design and produce. Any major scientific goal spins back useful and necessary discoveries at a faster pace because the hurdles that present themselves need to be overcome through innovation, creativity, and invention. We are all better off because of NASA.

[hartkid]

I liked it when they used to play music videos. They certainly had a huge impact on culture in the mid 80's. Martha Quinn, where are you? Triple JJJ, we still love you.

[Masterbasser]

LMAO.......tha's priceless.

[mikebythesun]

It's amazing how far humans have come in such a short time.

[mckinley]

No mention of Space Food Sticks??!!

My favorite (albeit barely edible) snack food of childhood.

[RealityBaseCamp]

mckinley said
"No mention of Space Food Sticks??!! My favorite (albeit barely edible) snack food of childhood."

Awww, c'mon, I loved those things. They were like easier-to-chew Tootsie Rolls.

[sufi66]

Until we get things right on this planet, I am against the waste of money we throw at NASA.

One world at a time!

--Edward Abbey

[ramper]

Another ignorant statement. Try, just a little, learning what has come out of this agency over the years. Did you not even read the article. And that is only the tip of the iceberg.

[FerrisValyn]

We won't get them right on this planet, without going beyond this planet. Thats the reality - if we simply stay with this planet, we are screwed.

[outnow]

Tesla did all that and much, much more - and for far, far less.

[wadenelson1]

Tesla's only major accomplishment was his invention of the induction motor.

The rest was just pretty sparks and pipe dreams.

[NeverRepublican]

Wow...111 patents including alternating current, radio, microwaves and wireless transfer of energy...among others...

Try doing a little research genius.

[NeverRepublican]

Might want to check the link to get yourself started...

http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/new/tesla.htm

[editorjuno]

I'd say alternating current electric power distribution was a fairly "major accomplishment," wouldn't you? Tesla was way ahead of his time -- make sure to thank him for fluorescent lighting the next time you flip a switch, not to mention for that handy TV remote, another Tesla idea. Don't confuse eccentricity with lack of talent -- Leonardo Da Vinci has some strange habits and beliefs too!