Digital & Communication Technology
Smartphone Cameras — The CMOS active pixel sensor was invented by Eric Fossum at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1990s to create smaller, more energy-efficient cameras for interplanetary spacecraft. The technology was licensed to create digital cameras and is now used in over 7 billion cameras produced annually, including nearly every smartphone.
Microprocessors — While NASA didn't invent the integrated circuit, the Apollo program was the largest single consumer of integrated circuits between 1961 and 1965, purchasing over 100,000 units by 1964. This massive procurement helped stabilize the industry and drive mass production before other consumer markets existed.
Satellite Television — The first satellite capable of relaying TV signals, Telstar 1, was launched in 1962 as a joint NASA and Bell Laboratories project. This experimental communications satellite laid the groundwork for modern satellite broadcasting and GPS navigation systems.
Joysticks — NASA developed the modern digital joystick as a T-shaped controller for the Apollo lunar rover used in missions 15–17. The controller used motors for driving and steering, with a switch-activated reverse and parking brake system.
Healthcare & Medical Devices
LASIK Eye Surgery — Algorithms originally developed by NASA subcontractor WaveFront Sciences to measure deviations in the James Webb Space Telescope's mirrors were incorporated into Johnson & Johnson's iDesign Refractive Studio. This device takes over 1,200 precise measurements to create an "optical fingerprint" of each patient's eye, enabling individualized vision correction. The technology has been used in over 18 million successful procedures across 47 countries.
Heart Pumps & Wireless Pacemakers — NASA's work in telemetry, or wireless control of devices, led to the development of implantable heart pacemakers that can be controlled remotely without invasive surgery. A physician communicates with the device via a wireless device held over the patient's chest. This bidirectional telemetry was originally developed for spacecraft electrical power systems and satellite two-way communications in the 1970s.
Home Blood Pressure Monitors — When Alan Shepard became the first American in space in 1961, NASA scientists developed an automatic blood pressure measuring system to monitor how spaceflight affected his cardiovascular system. This technology was subsequently adapted for home blood pressure monitoring kits.
Orthodontic Braces — Nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy, was developed by NASA in 1959 for aerospace applications. In 1979, orthodontist Dr. George Andreasen recognized its potential for dental archwires due to its exceptional elasticity and ability to return to its original shape after bending. This "memory wire" reduced treatment time, cost, and discomfort compared to traditional stainless steel wires.
Anti-Aging Skincare & Sunscreen — Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 is a bacterium identified by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1999 from a spacecraft clean room. After surviving 18 months outside the International Space Station, the organism was found to be resistant to UV and gamma radiation. The derived compound Bacillus Lysate is now used in skincare products for UV protection and anti-aging benefits.
Home & Daily Comfort
Memory Foam Mattresses — Originally called "temper foam," this viscoelastic material was developed by NASA's Ames Research Center in 1966 to improve crash protection and comfort for aircraft seats. The open-cell polyurethane foam responds to body heat and pressure, evenly distributing weight. It was released to the public domain in the 1980s and first commercialized for mattresses in 1991.
Cordless Tools — NASA collaborated with Black+Decker in the mid-1960s to develop a cordless zero-impact wrench for the Apollo program that could function in zero gravity. This research led to the development of cordless rotary-percussive drills for lunar rock extraction, including the Apollo Lunar Surface Drill that debuted in 1971.
Adjustable Smoke Detectors — While smoke detectors were invented in 1890, NASA developed the first adjustable sensitivity model in 1973 for Skylab to detect toxic vapors. These ionization-based detectors could differentiate between smoke and other airborne particles.
Water Purification — NASA developed advanced filtration systems for the Apollo program using silver ions to sterilize water produced by spacecraft fuel cells. This technology became the foundation for modern in-home water filters and purification systems.
Sports & Recreation
Golf Balls — A former Martin Marietta engineer who analyzed airloads on the Space Shuttle External Tank applied this aerodynamic expertise to golf ball design for Wilson Sporting Goods. The resulting Ultra 500 ball uses dimples to optimize lift and drag, sustaining initial velocity longer than conventional designs.
Competitive Swimsuits — NASA's Langley Research Center collaborated with Speedo to develop the LZR Racer swimsuit using fluid dynamics expertise. The suit uses ultrasonically welded seams and a water-repellent fabric to reduce skin friction drag. Athletes wearing this suit set 13 world records in 2008.
Hang Gliders — NASA's Langley Research Center tested the Rogallo wing, an inflatable paraglider, for the Gemini program as a potential landing system. Although never used for crewed spacecraft recovery, the technology was adapted by enthusiasts and became the precursor to the modern hang glider.
Ski Goggles & Sunglasses — Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings were developed by NASA's Lewis Research Center to protect spacesuit visors from scratching. The technology was licensed to Diamonex and applied to Ray-Ban Survivors sunglasses, making lenses 10 times more scratch-resistant than conventional glass while reducing surface friction to shed water.
Safety & Emergency Equipment
Hydraulic Rescue Cutters — The Lifeshear rescue cutter uses a miniature version of the pyrotechnic power cartridges first used on the Space Shuttle for separation devices. Developed under NASA's Technology Reinvestment Program, these cutters are 50% lighter and 70% cheaper than previous hydraulic equipment and can sever automotive clutch and brake pedals or roof posts in seconds.
Self-Righting Life Rafts — NASA developed a stabilization method for Apollo command module recovery rafts to prevent overturning from helicopter downwash. The technology was licensed to Givens Buoy Life Raft, which produces rafts that fully inflate in 12 seconds and cannot be capsized in normal seas. If overturned by a rogue wave, the raft automatically rights itself. Over 6,000 are in use worldwide, including Coast Guard rescue helicopters.
Aircraft Winglets — NASA engineer Richard Whitcomb at Langley Research Center developed winglets in the 1970s as part of the Aircraft Energy Efficiency program. These vertical wingtip devices reduce induced drag by weakening wingtip vortices, improving fuel efficiency by 6–7%. Since their introduction in the 1990s, winglets have saved over 10 billion gallons of aviation fuel.
Forest Fire Detection — NASA's Ames Research Center developed infrared fire detection technology in the 1990s that is now used by authorities to detect and locate forest fires. Modern systems like the Compact Fire Imager use AI and thermal infrared imaging to provide real-time data to firefighters, detecting small fires before they grow out of control.
Materials & Manufacturing
Aerogel Insulation — Originally developed in the 1930s but extremely brittle, NASA's Kennedy Space Center funded Small Business Innovation Research contracts in the 1990s to create flexible, durable aerogel blankets for cryogenic fuel systems. The resulting material is the world's best insulator, now used in industrial applications, building insulation, and extreme-weather apparel.
Structural Health Monitoring — NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center developed lightweight fiber optic sensing systems (FOSS) for monitoring aircraft structural integrity. The technology uses fiber Bragg grating sensors to calculate shape, stress, temperature, and operational load in real time at 100 samples per second. It is now used to monitor bridges, pipelines, wind turbines, and civil infrastructure.
NISAR Satellite Monitoring — The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, launched on July 30, 2025, uses Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar to monitor structural displacements in bridges as small as a few millimeters. This technology can expand regular monitoring from less than 20% of long-span bridges to over 60% worldwide.
Food & Nutrition
Freeze-Dried Food — While freeze-drying was invented in the 1930s for instant coffee and used during WWII for blood plasma, NASA adapted and improved the technology in the 1960s for space travel. The process flash-freezes food at -40°F and removes ice through sublimation, preserving 97% of nutrients while reducing weight. This perfected method was then adopted for consumer camping foods and emergency supplies.
