The Space Shuttle Program: The impact it has had on day to day life

Millions of people watched as the space shuttle Atlantis finished its final voyage a week ago. This moment concluded the American space shuttle program however the program leaves a legacy behind that won’t soon die out. Countless technologies that enhance our way of life owe their invention to the space program. We see it inside our homes, hospitals, cars, as well as on vacation.

Most people think of rockets, spacesuits, and Dippin Dots, the ice cream of the future, when they think of space shuttle technology. You might be surprised to learn just how many things would not exist if it weren’t for NASA’s drive to better the space shuttle program. Check out NASA’s annual publication, Spinoff, its goal is to inform the general public about technologies developed or commissioned for the space shuttle program which have been commercialized.

It may surprise you to realize that if it weren’t for the development of space shuttle technologies, these things might not exist:

Athletic Shoes – Many are made employing a method called blow rubber molding which was designed to produce space helmets. This allows companies to make soles hollow and fill them with a shock absorbing substance. Nike Air is probably the most commonly known shoe making use of this technology.

DustBusters – NASA commissioned engineers at Black and Decker to formulate a cordless power drill to use for moon landings. The technology is really a software program that allows motors to perform well even when using hardly any power. Black and Decker then expanded this and gave us the DustBuster.

Smoke Detectors – These were originally developed in 1970 for America’s first space station, Skylab. They are now so vital in households that it is against the law to construct a residence without installing a functioning smoke detector.

Human beings have forever been moved by the thought of exploring space. The drive to do so has inspired incredible technologies. Although the space shuttle will be greatly missed, NASA will not stop creating new technologies that people will find a way to implement in a more terrestrial fashion. As we think about all the ways everyday life has benefited from the space shuttle program, we see that it will live forever within our homes as well as our hearts.