Are you reading Kids News on a laptop? Moving the cursor* on your screen with a mouse?
Or perhaps you’re shuffling your hi-tech, super-comfy sports shoes under the desk.
So many of the inventions that make modern life on Earth safer, more efficient and more fun come from NASA or from a company helping NASA solve a space problem.
And as NASA spends a lot of money (its 2020 budget is $33.44 billion!) and only a lucky few humans will get to travel into space this year, it’s great news that those of us stuck back here on Earth still get to play with and use some space gear.
Here are some of Kids News’ favourite space inventions on Earth. Which is your favourite?
NIKE AIR TRAINERS
Do you have a pair of these? NASA suit technology is behind these popular shoes. A former NASA engineer first came up with the idea of transferring the space technology to Earth shoes.
COMPUTER MOUSE
In the 1960s, the mouse came about because a NASA researcher was trying to find ways of making computers more interactive*.
WIRELESS HEADSET
Astronauts could easily get tangled up in wires, so NASA developed wireless, hands-free headsets to allow astronauts to float free while talking and listening.
PHONE CAMERA
In the 1990s, a team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, US, developed a camera small enough to fit on a spaceship but able to take photos good enough for scientific use.
DUSTBUSTER
NASA asked appliance company Black & Decker to help it develop something to collect samples on the moon. Black & Decker then used its technology to launch the Dustbuster cordless vacuum cleaner in 1979.
RED LEDS
Red LEDs are used on Earth by doctors to help heal wounds. In space, NASA uses red LEDs to grow food plants. LED stands for Light Emitting Diodes.
EAR THERMOMETER
Once upon a time you had to put a glass thermometer under your tongue to check if you had a fever. Now, doctors accurately take your temperature by shining an infra-red light into your ear, which measures the energy (heat) coming out of your ear. NASA and a company called Diatek developed the aural* thermometer.
HOUSE INSULATION
It’s very hot or very cold in space, so NASA developed insulation for its spacecraft from aluminised (foil-coated) polyester. On Earth, similar products are now used to help keep houses warm in winter and cool in summer.
JAWS OF LIFE
When there’s a bad road accident, emergency services workers use a piece of equipment called the jaws of life to free anyone trapped in a vehicle. It’s a miniature version of the explosive device that separates pods, shuttles, rockets and other equipment from each other in space.
FOIL BLANKETS
These lightweight, inexpensive, metallic sheets help warm a person if their body temperature has become dangerously low after a cold night lost in the bush or too long in cold water. The material was developed to protect equipment and people in extreme temperatures in space.
PLENTY MORE SOLUTIONS
Here are some other inventions and innovations that were developed to meet the needs of NASA and other space agencies around the world. Do you know of more?
- Portable computer
- Nutrients in baby formula
- Water purification
- Flare that destroy landmines
- CAT scan
- Scratch-resistant glasses lens
- Memory foam
- Freeze-dried food
- Shock absorption technology in artificial limbs
- Hurricane tracking
- Better car tyre material
- Non-slip grooves in concrete footpaths
- More efficient solar power
Source: NASA
NOT NASA
Many people think a fruity drink powder called Tang and a non-stick surface for saucepans called Teflon were invented by NASA.
Although astronaut John Glenn drank Tang in space in 1962, it was developed by a company called General Foods, now Kraft Foods.
Teflon was invented by plastics company DuPont in 1938.
GLOSSARY
- cursor: movable indicator on a computer screen
- interactive: two people or things able to interact with or influence the other
- aural: to do with hearing
EXTRA READING
Worms and mice at International Space Station
Baking choc chip cookies in space
Space burgers coming right up!
Pack your bags for a space holiday
QUICK QUIZ
- Why would you need a Dustbuster on the moon?
- What sort of light do thermometers use?
- What space invention is the Jaws of Life based on?
- What do we use foil blankets for on Earth?
- What year was Teflon invented? What is it?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. A troublesome tale
Many of the space inventions in this news article are used daily to avoid or solve problems. Imagine what life would be like without them! Can you write a tale of a troublesome day where at least 5 things go wrong that can be solved by using space inventions?
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science
2. Extension
Think about which of these inventions has had the greatest and most far-reaching impact on human life. Decide which one you think is the most important and then write a paragraph to explain your choice.
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
After reading the article, with a partner, highlight as many connectives as you can find in pink. Discuss if these are being used as conjunctions, or to join ideas and create flow.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What is your favourite space invention for Earthlings? Is there something used in space you’d like to use back on Earth?
No one-word answers. Use full sentences to explain your thinking. No comments will be published until approved by editors.
