7 Transformative Space Tech Spin-Offs That Are Used Every Day

Space exploration is usually not thought of as a place to do research and development for everyday items like vacuum cleaners or rechargeable batteries. But, in fact, many innovative and very useful everyday items are actually space tech spinoffs.

The US space agency has a section of new technology that came from space research that is aptly called NASA Spinoff. These technologies are made available to the public according to a NASA news release. The benefits have made a global impact on transportation, health, computer technology, and even industry. Here are seven spin-offs that you probably use in your everyday life:

Cellphone cameras
When you take a selfie, you are using space tech. That’s because your cellphone uses the same technology as the cameras the astronauts use to take photos from space. In the 1990s, NASA developed a sensor that uses a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) that is small, requires very little power, and is very efficient. CMOS technology is now used commercially in cellphone cameras, high-definition videos, and social media.

Wireless headphones
The first wireless headphones were developed to be used in the Mercury and Apollo space missions, according to Wired. This allowed the astronauts to be able to work hands-free. Now, most of the headphones that are sold are wireless.

Velcro
While not entirely invented by NASA, shoes that could be closed without laces were actually developed in Switzerland eight decades ago. This concept was revamped and redesigned for space to prevent items from floating away in the microgravity conditions during the Apollo missions and on the International Space Station.

Freeze-drying
Astronauts need to eat on long missions and there isn’t a lot of available storage space. Food safety is also an issue so a new way of preparing food had to be researched and developed. While a freeze-drying technique had already been invented by Nestlé for freeze-dried coffee in 1966, it was greatly improved for space travel and is in wide use today.

Water filtration
Water filtration technology was created by NASA to ensure safe drinking water for the astronauts, reported The National News. Today that same technology is being used in home filtration systems that remove contaminants from drinking water.

Fire retardant materials
The heat shield that was used for the Apollo missions — that dissipated energy during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere –  was developed by Avco, according to Wired. Now the same material is being used in airplane covers, steel firewalls in buildings, and in fire-retarding paints.

Photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaic cells, or solar cells,  were first developed by NASA for satellites in the 1950s but they were greatly enhanced during the preparation for the Apollo missions. That’s because operations in space needed to be able to effectively take advantage of the power of the sun. Today, photovoltaic cells are used to power equipment, recharge batteries, and for grid connected systems like solar roofs. The solar cells can also power stand-alone systems like electric vehicles.