NASA Spinoff Technologies

Definition
● “Space research” refers to scientific study that is carried out in outer space, by
studying outer space.
● Research in space improves our life on Earth. Space research brings knowledge,
discoveries and improvements to our daily life and - one day - the daily lives of
explorers of our solar system.
Positive Impact 1
Wider Benefits
● Many technologies that are used on Earth today were first pioneered in space
● Without space as a medium to pioneer these technologies, we would not be able to use
them today.
● These technologies which were pioneered in space add convenience to humans’ daily
lives.
● Some recent examples of inventions pioneered by Space Research that add
convenience to our daily lives now include:
NASA Spinoff Technologies

● Commercial products and services which have been developed with the help of NASA
and pioneered in space, through research and development contracts.
● 1,920 Spinoff products have been developed to date, dating back to 1976.
● The program had contributed to many commercialized advances, including:
1. “Memory foam” (first used for airline crash protection)
2. Magnetic resonance imaging
3. Smoke detection
4. Infrared ear thermometers (particularly pertinent and needed now especially with the
outbreak of coronavirus)
5. Artificial limbs
6. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
● Red light-emitting diodes are growing plants in space and healing humans on Earth. The
LED technology used in NASA space shuttle plant growth experiments has contributed
to the development of medical devices such as award-winning WARP 10, a hand-held,
high-intensity, LED unit developed by Quantum Devices Inc. The WARP 10 is intended
for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, arthritis, stiffness, and muscle
spasms, and also promotes muscle relaxation and increases local blood circulation. The
WARP 10 is being used by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Navy as a
noninvasive “soldier self-care” device that aids front-line forces with first aid for minor
injuries and pain, thereby improving endurance in combat. The next-generation WARP
75 has been used to relieve pain in bone marrow transplant patients, and will be used to
combat the symptoms of bone atrophy, multiple sclerosis, diabetic complications,
Parkinson’s disease, and in a variety of ocular applications. Also, I moved examples 4-6
here as they appear to be NASA spinoff technologies too? Is this accurate? Yes
accurate
Understanding Earth Better

● Space research can help us in understanding Earth better, providing data that would
otherwise be difficult to obtain.
● Dozens of satellites orbiting Earth capture images on oceans, land and the
atmosphere to study climate change.
● In recent times, NASA’s satellites collect data on hurricanes to air meteorologists in
tracking the path of the hurricane and identifying which places would be heavily
affected.
Negative Impact
Environmental impact
● The ozone layer is depleted through rocket emissions directly in the middle and
upper atmosphere.
● Increases the amount of UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface.
● Especially problematic given that the pace of rocket launches is expected by The
Aerospace Corporation to ramp up significantly in the coming decades.
● Martin Ross, a senior engineer at The Aerospace Corporation, indicates that heavy,
black carbon emitted by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon can promote ozone-
destroying reactions, particularly when they are injected directly into the stratosphere.
● It is also found that these dangerous substances stay in the stratosphere for 3 to 4
years, further increasing their potency in depleting the ozone layer.
Space Weaponization
● Placing weapons in outer space or on heavenly bodies as well as creating weapons that
will transit outer space or simply travel from Earth to attack or destroy targets in space.
● Examples include the placing of orbital or suborbital satellites with the intention of
attacking enemy satellites, using ground-based direct ascent missiles to attack space
assets, jamming signals sent from enemy satellites etc.
● China has been making impressive headway in its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
(ICBM) program and in theory, these ICBMs can target U.S. Intelligence, Surveillance,
and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellites.
● China’s Space Program: In June 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to astronauts
at the launch of the Shenzhou X manned mission and said that China will take bigger
steps in space exploration in pursuit of its “space dream.” He acknowledged that the
space dream is part of the dream to make China stronger.
● Open source literature available on China’s space dreams points out that the Chinese
strategic community sees space as the ultimate high ground, the key to military success
on the terrestrial battlefield.
● China has invested in advanced space capabilities, with particular emphasis on “satellite
communication (SATCOM), intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR),
satellite navigation (SATNAV), and meteorology, as well as manned, unmanned, and
interplanetary space exploration. (2015)
● China continues to develop a variety of capabilities designed to limit or prevent the use
of space-based assets by adversaries during a crisis or conflict, including the
“development of directed-energy weapons and satellite jammers.”
Ethical Concerns
Contamination
● Might result in contamination of other planets
● May bring along microbes to other planets during space travel which might bring about
damage to the environment or life on other planets.
● Might result in extinction of species living on these planets as they might be very
susceptible to climate change and/or other disruptions to the ecosystem. One example
would be the extraterrestrial martians that live on Mars.
● These phenomena happened on Earth due to science research, so it is likely that Space
research can also lead to these consequences.
● Chris McKay, a space researcher at NASA, indicates that bringing microbes from Earth
to Mars “might mean forever altering the abiotic Martian environment” and that “beyond
contamination, ethical questions must also be considered about human intervention and
research of potential alien life”
Previous comment not touched on?
Previous comment: Any specific person/example to quote to back this up?
Cost
● In April 2019, SpaceX successfully landed all 3 boosters of their rocket, Falcon Heavy.
● For the financial year of 2020, NASA which is owned by the US Government had a
budget of $22 billion, 5% higher that that of 2019. The large amount of money used for
Space Research can be used to address more pressing issues such as poverty. The
money used on space research can be used to address more pressing issues.
Bibliography
NASA Technologies Benefit Our Lives. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2020, from
https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits.html
Pekkanen, S. (2018, December 5). Why space debris cleanup might be a national security
threat. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from http://theconversation.com/why-space-debris-cleanup-
might-be-a-national-security-threat-105816
Vasani, H. (2017, January 22). How China Is Weaponizing Outer Space. Retrieved April 17,
2020, from https://thediplomat.com/2017/01/how-china-is-weaponizing-outer-space/
Hermesauto. (2019, April 12). Elon Musk's SpaceX sends world's most powerful rocket on first
commercial flight. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-
states/elon-musks-spacex-sends-worlds-most-powerful-rocket-on-first-commercial-flight
Amadeo, K. (2020, February 27). How $1 Spent on NASA Adds $10 to the Economy. Retrieved
April 17, 2020, from https://www.thebalance.com/nasa-budget-current-funding-and-history-
3306321

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Understanding Earth Better

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