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NASA is famous for its groundbreaking space missions. Whether it's colossal rockets soaring into space, announcements about meteor discoveries, or their iconic spacesuits, the space agency captures the imagination. Beyond space exploration, NASA funds research that leads to technologies with far-reaching environmental applications on Earth.
During the height of the Space Race (1957-1969), NASA’s budget peaked at $5 billion annually. This funding fueled the creation of life-changing technologies such as smoke detectors and smartphones. Despite budget reductions in subsequent years, NASA, alongside its partner agencies, continues to drive innovation.
While NASA and its collaborators consistently push the boundaries of technology, many ask, “In what ways has NASA enhanced life on Earth?” Given that space missions are far from environmentally perfect, it raises the question: How has this space-faring agency contributed to addressing environmental challenges here on Earth?
Here are ten impactful ways NASA is making a difference in improving life on our planet.
10. EZVI
During the Apollo missions, NASA utilized chlorinated solvents to clean rocket components. While these chemicals effectively cleaned the parts, they had a detrimental impact on the environment surrounding the launch pads. The solvents belong to a class of chemicals known as dense non-aqueous phase liquids, which were difficult to remove due to their weight and low solubility. To address the pollution caused by the Apollo missions, NASA scientists and engineers developed Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI). This two-step treatment uses iron particles to dechlorinate contaminated areas, creating a non-toxic hydrocarbon. EZVI can be used to purify both soil and groundwater, thanks to its soluble membrane.
EZVI has become one of NASA's most widely licensed technologies due to the large number of sites contaminated by dense non-aqueous phase liquids. Its affordability and quick treatment time (2 to 3 months) make it an invaluable tool for groundwater decontamination.
9. Durable Wind Turbines
Mars presents an incredibly harsh environment. With an average surface temperature of -62°C (-81°F), and even colder conditions at the poles or during the winter, the planet demands innovative solutions for human colonization. A promising option is to combine solar and wind power, taking advantage of the longer days and frequent dust storms. To withstand these extreme conditions, NASA designed a wind turbine with durable components and minimal moving parts. These features have since been adapted to expand renewable energy in some of the Earth’s most extreme environments. NASA first tested this technology in the South Pole, aiming to reduce the amount of fuel flown in for research teams stationed there.
Following a successful test at the South Pole, the technology has been rolled out globally, with deployments in Alaska and Colorado. Northern Power Systems, the corporate partner behind the technology, asserts that it has been successfully used in harsh weather conditions, including hurricanes and typhoons.
8. Canary-S
Dust bunnies pose a bigger threat when the dust originates from the lunar surface. Managing and filtering regolith is essential for any structure where humans may be present on the Moon, as the fine particles can harm both the eyes and the lungs. A company named Lunar Outpost has developed a monitoring device, the Space Canary, to address this issue. In collaboration with Lockheed Martin Space, Lunar Outpost enhanced the design to make it suitable for use both in space and on Earth as part of NASA's NextSTEP program.
The newly redesigned Space Canary, now known as Canary-S, has been independently tested and confirmed to be effective for monitoring pollution in outdoor environments. Canary-S has been deployed to protect firefighters from carbon monoxide poisoning, track emissions from oil and gas companies, and monitor local air quality at public schools.
7. Plant Sensors
If you've ever struggled with under- or overwatering a plant, you might have wished it could simply tell you when it needs water. Thanks to a groundbreaking invention, plants can now do just that. Research conducted by a NASA-funded scientist revealed that a plant's water content can be monitored by measuring the thickness of its leaves through electrical pulses. This idea was later developed into a commercial product by AgriHouse Brands. Their sensor connects directly to a leaf, sending valuable information about the plant's health and notifying the farmer when it needs watering.
The sensor provides real-time data on the plant's health, allowing farmers to water it only when necessary. This approach, known as precision agriculture, conserves water, saves time, and reduces costs. In the near future, your houseplant might even send you a text requesting a little more water.
6. High Efficiency Lighting with Integrated Adaptive Control (HELIAC)
LEDs aren't just for creating ambient lighting in your room or making your car shine. Plants weren’t designed to grow in space, and the unique challenges of the space station—such as the fluctuating day cycle and imperfect light positioning—can make plant growth difficult. Traditional lighting systems consume a lot of energy and emit heat, which is harmful to delicate plants. LEDs tackle both problems, requiring far less energy and producing almost no heat.
In order to create a sustainable light source for plant growth, NASA partnered with Orbital Technologies Corporation. They developed the High Efficiency Lighting with Integrated Adaptive Control (HELIAC) system, which consists of a series of 4-cm-square LED panels. These panels can be individually adjusted, offering energy savings in two ways. First, the LED panels can tailor the light they emit to meet the specific needs of different plants during their various growth stages. Second, the HELIAC system saves energy by activating only when plants are detected in front of the panels. These cool-looking LEDs may soon power indoor farms near you.
5. Self-Driving Farm Tractors
You might be asking yourself, 'How can John Deere contribute to the environment?' Tilling is essential for food production, but traditionally, this task has been inefficient. Farmers often rely on visual cues, which leads to about 10 percent overlap between rows. This overlap wastes seeds, fertilizer, and time. Self-driving tractors can drastically reduce this overlap, leading to better resource use and higher crop yields.
John Deere achieved this by using NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab's GPS-correction software and global data. After connecting to the network, they were able to chart precise courses for their tractors with accuracy down to a few inches. Additionally, this innovation eliminated the need for expensive, large radio towers.
These remote sensing advancements enable farmers to map out accurate paths for their tractors, reducing resource waste while increasing yields.
4. DigitalClone
A DigitalClone refers to the concept of creating a digital replica of real-world systems or components. This 'digital twin' acts as a virtual counterpart of an object or system, used to forecast future occurrences or events. Recently, NVIDIA's Earth-2 digital twin has been a prominent example of this technology gaining attention.
In the early 2000s, Sentient Science embarked on a similar endeavor, focusing on mechanical components. Their goal was to transform the data collected about material performance into a predictive model for component wear and degradation. While it might not seem immediately environmentally conscious, the broader implications are notable. By leveraging accurate digital twins, companies can simulate component use and predict necessary maintenance. Predictive maintenance lowers repair costs and extends the lifespan of systems.
The technology has enabled companies and government bodies to simulate systems far more quickly than conventional physical tests. This digital approach helps to minimize the environmental impact typically associated with component and system trials. Sentient Science has applied its DigitalClone technology extensively in renewable energy, especially in wind turbine gearboxes. Their technology is credited with lowering the cost of wind energy to cents per kilowatt-hour as of 2016.
3. M-2000
This isn't a model from an early Terminator movie. Ships must regularly undergo dry-docking and maintenance to ensure they remain sea-worthy. The conventional method of removing paint involves grit blasting, which generates harmful airborne particles. Grit blasting also results in waste being sent to landfills, further harming the environment. The M-2000 is a robotic solution designed to replace grit blasting for contaminant removal, offering a cleaner alternative.
Unlike traditional grit blasting, UltraStrip's M-2000 uses a powerful water jet to strip paint. This high-pressure jet causes the paint to break off, with water and paint chips being the only byproducts. A vacuum system captures these byproducts, recycling the water while safely storing the paint chips in a separate container. This process is estimated to be 200 percent more effective than grit blasting for removing contaminants, resulting in fewer repainting cycles. As shown by the M-2000, robotics is poised to play a significant role in environmental conservation in the coming years.
2. WATEX
Water is an essential resource for life on Earth. Freshwater reserves are increasingly strained, as evidenced by the ongoing droughts in the Southern Plains and Western United States. Water scarcity is not just a localized issue; the BBC reports that around 40 percent of the global population is affected. Experts also predict that water-related conflicts will rise as access to this vital resource becomes more limited.
However, there is hope. Satellite imaging and specialized software allow researchers and governments to detect hidden freshwater deposits underground. By combining various data sources, satellite imagery, and an algorithm developed by Radar Technologies International, WATEX is capable of generating 3-D maps of areas likely to contain water.
Remarkably, this technology can be used in conflict zones without putting cartographers at risk. A significant success for the WATEX system was the discovery of 66 trillion gallons of water beneath Turkana. The technology has also been instrumental in finding water in regions such as Afghanistan, Angola, and Sudan. As freshwater becomes scarcer, innovations like WATEX may offer crucial solutions to prevent a crisis.
1. Smart Fertilizer
Plants require nutrients for healthy growth, but traditional fertilizer methods are often inefficient. Typically, fertilizers are applied on a monthly basis, but much of this fertilizer is not absorbed by the plants. Florikan has developed a smarter solution: rather than applying large amounts of fertilizer monthly, their technology offers a single, controlled application that releases nutrients over time. This method uses just one-third of the fertilizer amount typically used in conventional practices.
There are two significant environmental advantages to this innovative approach. First, by reducing the total amount of fertilizer used, the risk of nutrient runoff is minimized. Excess nitrogen, a key component of fertilizers, has been linked to harmful algal blooms that threaten marine ecosystems. The second benefit is that by cutting down on fertilizer usage, a vital resource is conserved, contributing to broader conservation efforts.
