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Links to NASA Spinoffs/Technology Transfer

Everyone thinks that Velcro came out of NASA's space program, right? Well, it didn't - that's a bit of urban legend. But few people actually know how their NASA tax dollars come back to them in the form of improved technologies. For instance, did you know that great improvements in dialysis technology came from the space program? Because NASA has improved purification techniques for astronauts' water supplies, we benefit too!

Spinoff is NASA's annual publication, which describes how NASA technologies have been returned to the taxpayer via commercial industrial products and improvements. Spinoff is published by the Technology Transfer Office; if you want to submit YOUR successful spinoff for publication, or you want to search the spinoff database, this is the place to go.

Other NASA Technology Transfer Resources

  • Space Shuttle Spinoffs (artificial heart pumps, NASCAR insulation, land mine removal and others)
  • Apollo Lunar Program Spinoffs (CAT scanners and MRI among others)
  • These are just a few of the places you can look to see what NASA-funded research brings to our everyday lives. Most of these sites have additional links - check 'em out!

    And for the curious, the material we know as Velcro was invented by George De Mestral of Switzerland when he decided to figure out why cockleburs stuck to his cloth jacket.


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    pages last updated: March 2009