By ARMAND NARDI, publisher
Back in grade school, if asked of myself or any of my peers what we wanted to be when we grew up, without blinking the answer would fly from our lips.
An astronaut.
Those were the days when pioneers, our heroes, were first being jettisoned into the vast abyss of space.
I’m bringing this up because this month marks the 40th anniversary of the very first moon walk.
President John F. Kennedy set the bar in May 1961 when he said “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth."
Launched July 16, 1969, NASA’s Apollo 11 carried Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin, at a speed of 25,000 MPH, toward their lunar target almost 240,000 miles away.
On the trajectory calculated with slide rule technology they reached their destination. Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon on July 20.
Today, the memory of being riveted in front of our black and white television as Armstrong took his historic step is just as clear as my recollection of Nixon’s resignation, the shooting of President Regan and 911.
Dialing the years forward to the present, the euphoria of NASA and space exploration has tempered to slightly less than a fizzle. If there were a space shuttle launched tonight, I’d wager more people would tune in to Michael Jackson updates - almost two weeks after his death.
Now that America is facing its toughest economic times since the Great Depression, many argue the government should scrap the NASA program and redeploy the funds to more pressing domestic issues.
I believe space exploration provides many more benefits to society than merly satisfying man’s natural wanderlust. For instance, the vast list of technologies used in everyday life now taken for granted – spawned by NASA innovation.
To name a few:
Scratch-resistant Lenses — Because of dirt and particles found in space environments, NASA needed a special coating to protect space equipment, particularly astronaut helmet visors. NASA developed the process of refining helmet visors for astronauts. Later, Foster-Grant licensed the technology for scratch-resistant lenses for eyeglasses and sunglasses.
Ear Thermometer — When you’re sick, taking your temperature can be tricky business. A mercury thermometer can be hard to read, and a rectal one is, well, a rectal one. NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab invented an infrared sensor that serves as the thermometer. Aural thermometers with these infrared sensors take your temperature by measuring the amount of energy your eardrum emits into the ear canal.
Invisible Braces — At one time teenagers would cringe at the prospect of a mouth full of metal. Not so any more. Invisible braces are made of translucent polycrystalline alumina. (TPA). In conjunction with NASA Advance Ceramics Research, a company called Ceradyne developed TPA to protect the infrared antennae of heat-seeking missile trackers.
Shoe Insoles — When Neil Armstrong spoke of "one giant leap for mankind," he had no idea of the literal connotation. Today's athletic shoes have borrowed the technology of the moon boots that first took that leap. The space suit designed for the Apollo missions included specially-made boots that added a spring to astronaut's steps.
Long-Distance
Telecommunications — Before humans were sent into space, NASA built satellites that could communicate to the ground conditions of outer space. Today, over 200 communication satellites orbit the globe using similar technology. Satellites sending and receiving transmissions allow us to call friends in Hong Kong when we're in Dallas.
Cordless Tools — Preparing for the Apollo missions to the moon, NASA needed a tool astronauts could use to obtain samples of rocks and soil, specifically a drill had that was lightweight, compact and powerful enough to dig deep into the surface of the moon. NASA and Black & Decker invented a battery-powered, magnet-motor drill. Working in the context of a limited space environment, Black & Decker developed refined the tool to reduce the amount of power expended during use to maximize battery life.
Memory Foam — Temper foam found in Tempur-pedic brand mattresses and similar brands was originally developed for space flight .The open cell polyurethane-silicon plastic was created for use in NASA aircraft seats to lessen impact during landings. The plastic has a unique property that allows it to evenly distribute the weight and pressure on top of it, which provides shock absorbency.
Other NASA innovations include:
• Advanced polymer coatings for implantable devices to help avert heart failure.
• Robotic technology used for minimally invasive knee surgery.
• Space suit-derived textiles to help protect firefighters and race car drivers.
• Drag reduction research applied to record-breaking swimsuit development.
• Astronaut food supplements in worldwide use to improve baby formula.
• Carbon nanomesh technology applied to filtering safe drinking water.
• Rocket engine valve technology reducing emissions for power generation.
The list goes on. In fact NASA has filed more than 6,300 patents with the U.S. government.
Inarguably, NASA carries a hefty price tag — $17.3 billion. But the advancement in technologies that catapult America beyond competing nations, driving homegrown commerce — the investment is well worth it.
In the weeks to come, as I gaze at the evening sky and wonder where we are going next, I’ll also ponder the kind of technologies taken for granted 40 years from now.
Armand Nardi is the publisher of the Gainesville Daily Register. He can be contacted at anardi@ntin.net.
