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President Bush's New Space Initiative

Space Technology Affects the Lives of Every American

From White House, for About.com

  • More than 1,300 NASA and other U.S. space technologies have contributed to U.S. industry, improving our quality of life and helping save lives.

  • Image processing used in CAT Scanners and MRI technology in hospitals worldwide came from technology developed to computer-enhanced pictures of the Moon for the Apollo programs.

  • Kidney dialysis machines were developed as a result of a NASA-developed chemical process, and insulin pumps were based on technology used on the Mars Viking spacecraft.

  • Programmable Heart Pacemakers were first developed in the 1970s using NASA satellite electrical systems.

  • Fetal heart monitors were developed from technology originally used to measure airflow over aircraft wings.

  • Surgical probes used to treat brain tumors in children resulted from special lighting technology developed for plant growth experiments on Space Shuttle missions.

  • Infrared hand-held cameras used to observe blazing plumes from the Shuttle have helped firefighters point out hot spots in brush fires.

  • Satellite communications allow news organizations to provide live, on-the-spot broadcasting from anywhere in the world; families and businesses to stay in touch using cell phone networks; and the simple pleasures of satellite TV and radio, and the convenience of ATMs across the country and around the world.
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