Topic

The Space Laser Business Model

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Creating long-duration, high-powered lasers, for satellites, that can withstand the type of optical misalignment and damage dished out by the unforgiving environment of...

Experiments With Small Animals Rarely Go This Well

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In the mid-1950s, a young U.S. Air Force engineer named Clark Beck began work with what is now one of NASA's most prolific spinoffs, the radiant barrier...

NASA, the Fisherman's Friend

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Every angler has his secrets, whether it be an old family recipe for stink bait, a midnight worm-hunting ritual, or the most coveted of all, the no-fail fishing hole. Most of...

Crystal-Clear Communication a Sweet-Sounding Success

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. On July 20, 1969, millions were glued to their television sets when NASA astronaut Neil...

Inertial Motion-Tracking Technology for Virtual 3-D

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In the 1990s, NASA pioneered virtual reality research. The concept was present long before, but, prior to this, the technology did not exist to make a...

Then Why Do They Call Earth the Blue Planet?

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution While the most common photographs of Earth taken from space show the planet covered in blue water, NASA has managed to produce detailed color images, using...

Valiant Zero-Valent Effort Restores Contaminated Grounds

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) are chemical compounds that can contaminate soil and groundwater to the point of irreparability. These...

Harnessing the Power of the Sun

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution The Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) Alliance was created in 1994 and operated for 9 years as a NASA-sponsored coalition of 28 members from...

Water and Air Measures That Make PureSense

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Each day, we read about mounting global concerns regarding the ability to sustain supplies of clean water and to reduce air contamination. With water and air...

Remote Sensing for Farmers and Flood Watching

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution The Applied Sciences Directorate, part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, makes use of the Agency's remote-sensing capabilities to acquire detailed...

Pesticide-Free Device a Fatal Attraction for Mosquitoes

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Are those pesky mosquitoes getting more entertainment out of your family picnic than you are? If the answer is yes, then it is time to reclaim your...

Making the Most of Waste Energy

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution The Thermo-Mechanical Systems Branch at NASA's Glenn Research Center is responsible for planning and conducting research efforts to advance thermal systems for space,...

Washing Away the Worries About Germs

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Fresh fruits and vegetables have been in demand by orbiting astronauts since the early days of the Space Shuttle. As one can imagine, however, oranges, onions,...

Celestial Software Scratches More Than the Surface

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution While NASA is preparing to send humans back to the Moon by 2020 and then eventually to Mars, the average person can explore the landscapes of these...

A Search Engine That's Aware of Your Needs

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Internet research can be compared to trying to drink from a firehose. Such a wealth of information is available that even the simplest inquiry can sometimes...

Fault-Detection Tool Has Companies Mining Own Business

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution A successful launching of NASA's Space Shuttle hinges heavily on the three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) that power the orbiter. These critical...

Software to Manage the Unmanageable

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In 1995, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) contracted Redmond, Washington-based Lucidoc Corporation, to design a technology infrastructure to automate the...

Tracking Electromagnetic Energy With SQUIDs

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution A superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is a gadget used to measure extremely weak signals, specifically magnetic flux. It can detect subtle...

Taking the Risk Out of Risk Assessment

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution The ability to understand risks and have the right strategies in place when risky events occur is essential in the workplace. More and more organizations are being...

Satellite and Ground System Solutions at Your Fingertips

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In the summer of 1998, the blockbuster action movie Armageddon captivated audiences with a thrilling doomsday plot about a meteor the size of...

Structural Analysis Made 'NESSUSary'

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Everywhere you look, chances are something that was designed and tested by a computer will be in plain view. Computers are now utilized to design and test just about...

Software of Seismic Proportions Promotes Enjoyable Learning

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution While working for NASA, Jack Sculley and Terry Brooks had a revelation. They wanted to find a novel and unique way to present the scientific...

Making a Reliable Actuator Faster and More Affordable

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Before any rocket is allowed to fly and be used for a manned mission, it is first test-fired on a static test stand to verify its flight readiness....

All-Terrain Intelligent Robot Braves Battlefront to Save Lives

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution As NASA's lead center for creating robotic spacecraft and rovers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) builds smart machines that can perform...

Keeping the Air Clean and Safe—An Anthrax Smoke Detector

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Scientists at work in the Planetary Protection division at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) sterilize everything before blasting it to the...

Lightning Often Strikes Twice

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Contrary to popular misconception, lightning often strikes the same place twice. Certain conditions are just ripe for a bolt of electricity to come zapping down; and a...

Technology That's Ready and Able to Inspect Those Cables

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Attempting to locate a malfunctioning wire in a complex bundle of wires or in a cable that is concealed behind a wall is as difficult as trying to...

Secure Networks for First Responders and Special Forces

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution When NASA needed help better securing its communications with orbiting satellites, the Agency called on Western DataCom Co., Inc., to help develop...

Hydrogen Sensors Boost Hybrids; Today's Models Losing Gas?

Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Advanced chemical sensors are used in aeronautic and space applications to provide safety monitoring, emission monitoring, and fire detection....