11 NASA Innovations That Shape Our Everyday Life

Even if you’re not into astronomy, you likely think about NASA from time to time—whether it's when they send astronauts into space, land a rover on Mars, or when we see them featured in popular films like Apollo 13 (1995) or Hidden Figures (2016). Regardless of how often NASA crosses your mind, some of its inventions could very well be in your home or on you right now.

Since its creation in the 1950s, NASA has developed various technologies for space exploration that have since been licensed to companies for consumer products. Known as spinoffs, these innovations can now be found in everything from cars to baseball helmets and even our smartphones. Here are a few surprising examples, taken from an episode of The List Show on YouTube.

1. The Dustbuster

During the 1970s, NASA's Apollo astronauts were busy collecting moon rock samples to bring back to Earth. While collecting surface dust wasn’t an issue, they needed a specialized drill to gather core samples from the lunar soil for a more detailed analysis. The drill had to be compact and lightweight to fit on the lunar lander, and it also required its own power source.

NASA turned to Black & Decker to develop the tool [PDF], and the company designed a computer program to enhance the drill’s efficiency. The program proved so effective that Black & Decker adapted it for use in their consumer products. In 1979, they launched the Dustbuster, a cordless, lightweight, hand-held vacuum inspired by the moon drill’s design. Weighing just two pounds, it recharged in its own docking station. The company also went on to create cordless power tools, trimmers, and medical devices, all influenced by the Dustbuster technology.

2. Freeze-Dried Food

While NASA didn’t originally invent freeze-drying, they played a pivotal role in making the technology widely used. In the 1960s, NASA began developing space food for astronauts that was not only nutritious but also lightweight, shelf-stable, and easy to consume in space—without crumbs floating around in zero gravity and potentially damaging sensitive equipment. Initially, food came in containers similar to toothpaste tubes, but NASA soon partnered with Army Natick Laboratories, who had been experimenting with freeze-dried meals for military use. The lab’s product required boiling water and waiting 20 minutes for the food to be ready. NASA needed a quicker process, capable of rehydrating the food with room temperature water in just 10 minutes. Thanks to NASA’s support, this became a reality.

As NASA’s food lab continued experimenting with freeze-dried items for astronauts, the technology was licensed to other government agencies. By the mid-1970s, programs in Texas were offering nutritious freeze-dried meals based on NASA’s advancements to elderly citizens [PDF], and in New York, a company named Sky-Lab Foods created similar meals for seniors and individuals who were homebound [PDF].

Arguably the most famous space food, freeze-dried ice cream, may or may not have ever been consumed by astronauts. It is believed that it was taken on Apollo 7, but when astronaut Walter Cunningham was asked about it years later, he remarked, “they don’t know their ass, obviously. We never had any of that.” Whether or not it reached space, the freeze-dried chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, resembling Styrofoam, became a favorite among children and can now be found in gift shops and theme parks around the world.

3. Athletic Wear Fabrics

Some of NASA’s breakthroughs are so common today that we don’t even realize we’re using them. Fabrics initially designed to shield astronauts from the harsh conditions of space have made their way into athletic and outdoor clothing. In 1982, a bioengineer at Johnson Space Center launched a brand called Techni-Clothes, which used the cooling technology from spacesuits. The line featured items like headbands and running shorts with small pockets designed to hold cooling gel packs that helped draw heat away from the skin. Another product inspired by NASA materials was the Support-Her Bra, a comfortable sports bra designed to reduce irritation and prevent “mammary bounce” [PDF].

In recent years, NASA's technology has been applied to UV-blocking cooling fabrics used in swimwear and casual clothing. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station also tested performance fabrics as part of the SpaceTex study, examining the textiles' ability to wick moisture, prevent bacterial growth, and control odors—all crucial factors for those preparing for potential Mars colonization.

4. Fogless Coating for Goggles, Glasses, and More

Some of NASA’s innovations are literally clear—designed to ensure you can see without obstruction. Faced with the issue of spacecraft windows fogging up before launches, NASA developed a fogless coating that was later licensed to over 60 companies. Composed of liquid detergent, deionized water, and fire-resistant oil, the solution keeps everything from scuba masks to ski goggles, car windows, fireproof helmets, and eyeglasses free from fog buildup [PDF].

5. Scratch-Resistant Lenses

Speaking of eyewear, NASA also played a key role in creating scratch-resistant lenses. In 1972, the FDA required all eyeglasses to be shatterproof, leading manufacturers to replace glass with plastic lenses. The catch, however, was that plastic scratched far too easily.

In a completely unrelated development, NASA scientist Theodore J. Wydeven, Jr. was working on improving water purification systems for spacecraft and discovered a method for applying a thin plastic coating. NASA soon realized this breakthrough had broader potential, including making scratch-resistant coatings for space helmet visors. With the collaboration of Foster Grant, a sunglasses manufacturer, the technology was quickly adapted for plastic lenses, leading to the production of 5 million pairs of sunglasses in just three years. Today, most eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses come with anti-scratch coating.

6. Cold-Resistant Tires

During the Apollo 14 mission in 1971, the crew landed on the moon to explore various locations of interest. To help them with their tasks, NASA created a portable workbench on wheels known as the Modularized Equipment Transporter, or MET. Astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell, who pulled it across the lunar surface, nicknamed it the Rickshaw. The tires for the Rickshaw were engineered by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company at the Johnson Space Center to endure the extreme conditions of the moon. They remained flexible even at minus 195°F.

Back on Earth, traditional summer tires would become stiff and lose traction in cold weather. Winter tires with studs attempted to solve the problem, but they created new issues, such as damaging road surfaces. Once the specialized moon tires were developed, Goodyear and other manufacturers began offering winter tires that stayed flexible in cold temperatures. The Goodyear tires also included another NASA breakthrough: the cords, which maintain the tire’s shape, were made from the same ultra-durable material used in the parachute lines of NASA’s Viking Lander, which landed on Mars in 1976.

7. Memory Foam

In the mid-1960s, NASA led the development of a shock-absorbing foam designed to enhance the safety of airline passengers. After engineers created seat cushions using this foam, they discovered it not only provided protection in the event of a crash but also offered greater comfort on long flights by evenly distributing a passenger’s weight. Initially called “slow spring back foam,” the product was later rebranded as Temper Foam when a NASA-affiliated company began licensing it to other manufacturers.

NASA refers to Temper Foam as its “most recognized and widely used” spinoff. This foam has been incorporated into Little League baseball helmets, the Dallas Cowboys' football helmets [PDF], and other sports equipment to safeguard athletes [PDF]. It provides support in hospital beds, cushions prosthetic limbs for people and racehorses, and is also found in motorcycle and helicopter seats.

One of the remarkable features of Temper Foam is its ability to conform to the shape of the object pressing against it and then return to its original form once the pressure is removed—almost as though it has … memory. As you’ve likely guessed, Temper Foam, also known as memory foam, is a primary material in Tempur-pedic mattresses and countless other bedding products.

8. Aluminized Mylar 

One more NASA innovation that has become common is aluminized mylar. This incredibly lightweight, silvery material has a reflective side that bounces heat away, and when flipped inward, it traps heat. Satellites were outfitted with mylar to shield them from solar radiation [PDF], and spacesuits were also insulated with it. Over time, it was licensed to sports gear manufacturers to produce lightweight, heat-retaining “space blankets,” jackets, ski parkas, and emergency supplies. Marathon runners often wrap themselves in mylar sheets after a race to either warm up or show off their accomplishment of running over 26 miles. You might also spot mylar in balloons, which stay inflated much longer than latex ones because it’s far less porous.

9. Aluminized Polymer Insulation 

Aluminized polymer sheets were also vital for the Apollo missions. They served to protect the command modules—and the astronauts inside—from extreme solar radiation and the fluctuating temperatures of space, which could swing between 400° and -400° Fahrenheit. The film’s effectiveness in reflecting radiation led to its adoption in home and commercial building insulation. The Quantum International Corporation developed Radiant Barrier products using NASA's mylar material to reflect solar radiation while maintaining interior temperatures—similar to how a Thermos keeps your coffee hot or your water cold for hours [PDF]. This technology has since been applied to refrigerated trucks and passenger vehicles as well.

10. Elements of Consumer Laptops

In the mid-1980s, NASA brought its technology to early laptops. During a 1983 Space Shuttle mission, astronauts used the Shuttle Portable Onboard Computer, or SPOC. This compact navigation device was adapted from a commercial model called the GriD Compass, which featured a flat screen, a full-sized keyboard, and clamshell-style hinged construction.

NASA modified the design, adding components that would later be incorporated into consumer laptops, like fan-based cooling systems. They also included features that didn’t see much use on Earth-bound computers, such as Velcro strips on the bottom to keep it from floating away [PDF]. Thanks to its collaboration with NASA, the GRiD Compass gained popularity among government agencies, the military, and companies in sectors like energy and telecommunications.

11. CMOS Sensors 

The last NASA innovation on our list is something many of us use daily: the camera in your smartphone. It all started with the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, which NASA developed to capture high-quality images from spacecraft. Eric Fossum, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, refined the CMOS over several years before licensing the technology and teaming up with companies like Kodak and Intel to create custom sensors.

CMOS sensors found their place in DSLR cameras and GoPro devices—ideal for compact, high-definition video capture—but it wasn’t until mobile phones adopted the technology that it became widespread. Its small size and low power consumption made it an excellent fit for cell phones. By 2013, over a billion CMOS image sensors had been produced, many of which ended up in smartphones. It’s safe to say that this NASA-derived innovation helped pave the way for countless Instagram influencers to thrive.

And One Thing NASA Didn’t Invent: Space Pens

The story goes that NASA spent a fortune developing a pen that could write in the microgravity environment of space. Meanwhile, the Soviet space program opted for pencils, supposedly demonstrating what happens when practicality is overshadowed by red tape.

In truth, the Fisher Pen Company invented the pen capable of writing upside down in 1965, addressing a real need. Unlike pencils, pens don’t risk breaking or releasing graphite dust, which could cause issues with sensitive spacecraft components. Fisher’s space pen worked so well that both NASA and the Soviets purchased them for their respective space programs.