This is the fourth year of the INSPIRE Online Learning Community and the weekly LiveChat, and each year we have invited Daniel Lockney from the Chief Technologist's Office in NASA HQ to share with our students the latest in NASA Spinoffs. 67 were in attendance to hear Mr. Lockney, with several students returning for a second or third time!
'Spinoff' is the word applied to technology twice used. It is Mr. Lockney's job to identify new ideas and inventions developed by NASA and assist businesses and entrepreneurs to utilize those in the marketplace. As examples, Mr. Lockney cited a new inflatable satellite antenna that can be packed into a suitcase and carried wherever needed. In an emergency, communications and internet connections can be established for those aiding in the recovery of a disaster, such as Katrina or the Kyoto tsunami. Other examples are the magnitude of improvements to firefighting, from the thermal barriers built into their suits, to the communications gear and air breathing apparatus, and even to the shape of the nozzle on the fire hoses.
Improvements were also cited to medical advances that have saved and extended thousands of lives. Many of these had their origin with the astronaut corp where doctors and practitioners are often hundreds or thousands of miles away. Which brings us to the topic of next week's LiveChat: Human Health and Safety. Our speaker will be Dr. Liz Warren of the Johnson Space center, herself a returning speaker. You will not want to miss it, so sign up now of the Discussion Board!
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