You may ask why spend on space programs under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) when there are so many problems besetting us on Earth.  After all, research on space will not benefit quality of life for humankind precisely because we lead our lives on the terra firma, not in the heavens.

Well, your doubts are valid on many points.  However, all your doubts will be erased once your realize that the NASA space programs have generated many spin-offs in technologies that have benefited and continues to benefit all of humankind especially in terms of improving our quality of life on Earth.  As a matter of fact, it can be hard finding an area of human life that has not benefited from said NASA technology spin-offs.

Spin-Off Areas

From national security and economy to personal productivity and lifestyle, NASA technology has touched them all.  As such, every penny spent on the space programs is well worth the taxpayer’s money.  Below are just some of these beneficial spin-offs where life in the house is concerned:

Air Quality Monitor - Yes, the air quality monitor used in your home has its roots in space technology although it was first used for industrial applications to determine compliance with emission standards.

Water Purification System - You may find that your municipal water provider uses iodine instead of chlorine to purify water, thanks to the NASA-developed Regenerable Biocide Delivery Unit.

Pool Purification - Space technology has also made it possible to purify pool water without using chlorine, thanks to silver-copper alloy electrodes.

Portable Coolers and Warmers - The space cooling system adopted by NASA is now in your automobile and recreational vehicles as well as boats.  Cooling power is equivalent to a 10-pound block of ice while heating capacity is set at 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

And of course, who can forget solar energy?  It is probably the greatest spin-off NASA technology has made on the energy conservation front.  The space agency pioneered the use of the photovoltaic system on its space crafts and stations, which was subsequently applied to terrestrial applications.

Newest Spin-Off

To add to all these technological spin-offs, NASA in collaboration with Integrated Building Systems is in the process of developing next generation automated monitoring systems for applications in both the office and research environments.  We can expect said applications to expand to the home environment in the foreseeable future.  After all, such is the pace of space technology as used in terrestrial situations.

So, what exactly is being developed?  Well, according to reports, it is a tool suite where centralized management of building systems is made possible.  Thus, monitoring, automating and analyzing all the factors involved in generating a better environment in and outside buildings is possible thanks to a browser-based console.  Said factors include power, air temperature, moisture and flow as well as light and water consumption.

For those who are afraid that robots will completely take over the tool suite, the human aspect is an important part of the system being developed.  After all, it is human comfort at stake.

NASA space technology is an important part of our lives on Earth despite appearances to the contrary.  The trick is in the modification of such high-tech concepts and gadgets to home-friendly applications, which our brilliant scientists are constantly working on.