NASA showcases spinoff technologies

From swimming costumes to firefighters' uniforms, from trucks to electric cars: NASA has launched an expanded version of an interactive online program that allows users to discover some of the many ways in which everyday life has been improved by NASA technologies.

NASA at Home and NASA City take users on an illustrated tour of commercial technologies and products that have originated from or been enhanced by NASA's investment in space and aeronautics research and development.


Visitors can scroll more than 100 technologies grouped by themes such as home, airport, grocery store, sports arena, hospital, public safety and manufacturing. After entering an area, users can experience the impact NASA has on their lives and find descriptions of such technologies as temperature-regulated clothing from materials designed for astronaut suits and gloves, wireless headset telephone technology pioneered to transmit the first words from the moon, fire-resistant paint and steel coatings from NASA's heat shield technology, and remote-controlled ovens based on technology used aboard the International Space Station.

Among the new features on the sites is Spinoff Challenge, a metagame that offers users NASA Home and City graphics, wallpapers and screen savers. NASA Billboard gives visitors up-to-date information about what is new at NASA.

NASA has documented more than 1,600 examples of how the agency's technologies have been used to improve life on Earth in its annual Spinoff publication. The technologies are available in an online searchable database that can be accessed directly from this new web feature.