How space technology benefits us
Technologies developed to enable space exploration endeavors also have applications here on Earth. Image Credit: James Vaughan / SpaceFlight Insider
At times, it might seem that since giving up on Moon explorations, not much has happened for us space-faring humans. Nothing could be farther from the truth with bioengineers and numerous other scientists looking to the stars and beyond for ways to develop technologies that will help in space. Many of these same technologies are used to help us here on the ground, too, even if we don’t realize it.
Let’s look at a few developments in space exploration that help planet Earth, too.
SERVIR
Executives at NASA theorized that there should be a way to use data collected above the Earth to help developing nations. The focus was on environmental improvements for 30 countries with a “developing” status in countries like Nepal, Panama, and the African hub. The project is funded jointly by USAID and NASA with the goal to use technical smarts and a unique space-oriented perspective to provide insights that wouldn’t overwise be accessible to the impoverished nations that need it.
Twenty people at Marshall Space Flight Center work on SERVIR to provide information to decision-makers across the network. In one case, an earthquake in Nepal spurred the SERVIR team into action who re-tasked satellites from their original path to capture live images to help guide first responders. The information was then distributed to the Nepalese government on the ground.
Communications and weather satellites have become a staple of the modern age. Image Credit: James Vaughan / SpaceFlight Insider
Weather Satellites
While we all complain that the weather is annoyingly inaccurate, in fact, that’s not fair. When there’s a hurricane spotted, we get warnings ahead of their arrival so that cities can begin preparations. The ultimate destination may change (from Panama City to New Orleans in a recent shift), but it still helps first responders prepare and local residents to stock up on the essentials and nail down anything that isn’t likely to withstand a big storm. The weather updates we all receive on our apps that are updated every few minutes comes from weather satellites that were originally a NASA development at the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Engineering
There’s always space for more engineers whether on space technologies or ones for down here on Earth. Whether it’s bioengineering, biomaterials engineering, or working with nanotechnology, there are many exciting fields to be sure. For people who like the medical aspect too, there are currently impressive things being done with biomaterials, improved drug delivery systems through the body, and tissue engineers to create replacement human tissue from grown cells. You just have to pick what you’re most fascinated by.
It’s possible to get invested in these fascinating fields of study by taking an online master of engineering in biomedical engineering at Rutgers Online. The course covers all the topics mentioned above and more to provide students with a complete understanding of many of the new technologies comes over the horizon. From there, it’s possible to specialize further and learn more about the area you’re most interested in. The online MEBME program is studied over the Internet, so it doesn’t require getting stuck in traffic on the way to the college campus either. You can choose when it’s more convenient for you to study.
There are numerous space technologies that were developed for space but ultimately have been used for practical reasons. Circuit boards that are used in electronic devices were heavily developed and modified by NASA engineers (they didn’t invent the early board) moving the technology along faster than it would otherwise. Many wireless technologies and even memory foam were first developed for space. The technology is all around us, we just fail to notice it.
The preceding is a guest post and should not be construed as expressing the views of SpaceFlight Insider
Press Release
The preceding is a press or news release either issued by one of the space agencies or by an aerospace firm or organization. The views expressed in the above post do not necessarily reflect those of SpaceFlight Insider.
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