Think and look before you speak

I love hasty, uninformed statements that are born out of emotional distress. I also love it when said statements are displayed for the world to see and then perpetuated to be a glaring example of ignorance and stupidity. I recently saw a statement that said in so many words that the $90 billion space program never contributed anything remotely important to the human race and that it was pointless to continue to fund a program that was so worthless. Do you really believe that statement?
Let's go over some things that were developed by NASA as part of the space program's evolution that are now part of our daily lives. In the health department we have kidney dialysis machines that were developed from NASA as a means for chemical removal of toxic waste. Oh here's another one that I'm a big fan: medical CAT scanners. You know those machines that can scan the body and find tumors and other abnormalities? These machines are spinoffs from the industrial versions, advanced computed tomography inspection systems, that find imperfections in aerospace structures and components, such as castings, rocket motors and nozzles. An intregral part of these systems is also a nasa creation: Digital signal-processing techniques, originally developed to enhance pictures of the Moon for the Apollo Program, are an indispensable part of Computer-Aided Tomography (CAT) scan & Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologies used today worldwide. Here's yet another machine that comes from technological developments at NASA: A cardiovascular conditioner developed for astronauts in space led to the development of a physical therapy and athletic development machine used by football teams, sports clinics and medical rehabilitation centers. Another development that you find in your home: Water purification technology used on the Apollo spacecraft is now employed in several spinoff applications to kill bacteria, viruses and algae in community water supply systems and cooling towers. Filters mounted on faucets can reduce lead in water supplies.
Of course, none of these products have helped anyone in any significant way, nor have they improved medical care and diagnostics.
Here are a number of other medical and health related systems and inventions that are direct spinoffs of NASA developments for the space program:
Digital Imaging breast biopsy system
Breast Cancer detection
Laser angioplasty
Ultrasound skin damage assesment
Human tissue simulator
the cool suit
programmable pacemaker
Ocular screening
medical gas analyzer
arteriosclerosis detection
ultrasound scanners
automated insulin pump
portable x-ray devices and x-ray technology
implantable heart aids
MRI technology
bone analyzers
cataract surgery tools

Industrial technologies include:

magnetic liquids used in semi-conductor chips
welding sensor system
microlasers
magnetic bearing systems
engine lubricants
interactive computer training
wireless communications
fire resistant materials
radiation insulation
weather forecasting
evergy saving air conditioning
air purification
sewage treatment

If you're still not convinced, perhaps these spinoffs and summaries will provide further proof...

Public Safety - NASA Spinoffs

RADIATION HAZARD DETECTOR - NASA technology has made commercially available new, inexpensive, conveniently carried device for protection of people exposed to potentially dangerous levels of microwave radiation. Weighing only 4 ounces and about the size of a cigarette pack, it can be carried in a shirt pocket or clipped to a belt. Unit sounds an audible alarm when microwave radiation reaches a preset level.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROBOT - Remotely-operated robot reduces human injury levels by performing hazardous tasks that would otherwise be handled by humans.

PERSONAL ALARM SYSTEM - Pen-sized ultrasonic transmitter used by prison guards, teachers, the elderly, and disabled to call for help is based on space telemetry technology. Pen transmits a silent signal to receiver that will display the exact location of the emergency.

EMERGENCY RESCUE CUTTERS - Lightweight cutters for freeing accident victims from wreckage developed using NASA pyrotechnic technology.

FIREMAN'S AIR TANKS - Lighter-weight firefighter's air tanks have been developed. New back-pack system weighs only 20 lbs. for 30 minute air supply, 13 lbs. less than conventional firefighting tanks. They are pressurized at 4,500 psia (twice current tanks). A warning device tells the fireman when he or she is running out of air.

PERSONAL STORM WARNING SYSTEM - Lightning detector gives 30-minute warning to golfers, boaters, homeowners, business owners, and private pilots.

SELF-RIGHTING LIFE RAFT - Developed for the Apollo program, fully inflates in 12 seconds and protects lives during extremely adverse weather conditions with self-righting and gravity compensation features.

Other spinoffs in this area include: Storm warning services (Doppler radar), firefighters' radios, lead poison detection, fire detector, flame detector, corrosion protection coating, protective clothing, and robotic hands.

Here's a link you can check out as well: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/technologies/spinoffs.html


But I'm sure none of this every helped anyone. Don't provide commentary about things you have taken no time to research or inform yourself about. Finding this information took all of 10 minutes.