Lesson 4 Technology and Our Lives
Space Technology for Everyday Use
Did you know that many technologies around us originated from space technology?
You may not have realized it, but we have been enjoying the enormous benefits of space technology in our daily lives for a long time.
Let’s see how some examples of it have been invented and integrated into our daily lives already.
Memory foam
Memory foam was initially developed to minimize the effects of the force of gravity on astronauts during takeoff and landing.
Memory foam absorbs shock by changing its shape in reaction to pressure, and it can change its shape to match the body shape of an astronaut.
Once the pressure is lifted, memory foam gradually returns to its original shape, as if it remembered its original form.
Because of this characteristic, it is called “memory” foam.
It provides astronauts with improved protection and comfort when they are in their seats.
Since memory foam was first introduced into the public domain, it has been used in a number of products such as beds and sofas.
Water purifier
Today’s water purifier also originated from space technology.
While planning their human space exploration program, NASA scientists realized that it was impossible to load a sufficient amount of clean water into a spacecraft.
Then, they hit upon an idea that wastewater could be recycled once harmful bacteria were removed.
So they developed a water purification system that could successfully kill off bacteria.
Continued research led to the invention of a better water purification system that uses cartridges for longer missions that did not need to be replaced frequently.
This water purifying technique was developed for several decades and then marketed for domestic use.
Air purifier
Another everyday item developed from space technology is the air purifier.
A reliable source of food was vital for survival in space.
In order to get fresh food, astronauts had to cultivate crops in the spacecraft.
However, there was a major obstacle.
When plants grow, ethylene gas is produced.
It accelerates the aging of plants and the decaying of fruits.
Since it was impossible to exchange gas for clean air while in space, scientists developed an air purification system to remove the gas.
Although the goal was to eliminate ethylene, the system could get rid of other unwanted things from the air, too.
A private company recognized the potential of the air purification system and obtained a license to develop and commercialize it.
Wireless headset
The fourth invention is the wireless headset.
It was devised after an unexpected incident NASA had experienced.
The second manned spacecraft launched by the U.S. completed its mission and successfully landed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The command pilot was waiting for the recovery team that would get him and the capsule from the ocean.
Everything was going smoothly until unexpectedly, the capsule started to leak.
Water flooded into the cabin before the team arrived, and the pilot had to escape, abandoning all of the spacecraft’s radio communications equipment.
This prevented him from communicating with the recovery team.
He was left floating in the ocean until he succeeded in visibly getting the rescue helicopter’s attention.
After this accident, NASA and a partner company developed helmets equipped with a radio system that could communicate with a designated base station.
Later, wireless headsets using this system were introduced to the world.
These days, Bluetooth technology has been incorporated into wireless headsets.
Now we can connect headsets wirelessly with mobile digital devices such as smartphones and laptops.
In our daily lives, there are many other inventions that have their origins in space technology including the smartphone camera and the computer mouse.
Private firms as well as government organizations have invested heavily in space technology for space exploration.
Therefore, we can expect that our future lives will be significantly influenced by space technology that has not yet been invented.
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