When you first think of NASA what do you think of?

Space, International Space Station (ISS), Apollo 11's famous line "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", the Challenger explosion, or JFK's Rice Stadium "We choose to go to the moon" speech.

But what else are we forgetting when it comes to NASA?

NASA has always been ahead of their time technologically, mathematically, and physically. In 1961, while America was not prepared for the "Space Race", the Soviet Union had already sent a man into orbit. The Soviet Union had the technology to do so and they left America on the surface while they shot for the stars. So what else did NASA have left to do except for make new technology.

For Project Mercury, NASA had to come up with new math just to make sure that Astronaut John Gleen could come home safely during his orbit around the Earth. But they also had to come up with new science to keep the men in Project Mercury while in orbit. However, as interesting as new math, science and technology for NASA, those things only affect those that work in NASA. But it was the beginning of taking those new ideas and using the principle to create new items for the society that can be used on a daily basis.

Do you have a pair of scratch-resistant sunglasses... Thank NASA. NASA and other third parties made scratch-resistant lenses for the visor on the space suits helmet as a precaution, so that the astronaut would not have an altered field of view.

Tempurpedic bed? NASA made memory foam to help lessen the effect of a crash on the astronaut. They found that the foam absorbed part of the crash and therefore protected the astronaut more during his water landings.

What about Britta Filter or food safety? All NASA. Engineers needed a way to both supply the astronauts in the International Space Station with water but to also get rid of any excess liquid such as sweat, urine, and any condensation in the spacecraft. So they found that it was easier to kill two birds with one stone and make a water purifier. While this science helps more people in third-world countries where they do not have clean drinking water, the same concept is used in Britta Filters today.

During Project Apollo, while their main goal was to get to the moon, NASA also decided to test food in space as well. NASA and (of all things) the Pillsbury Company teamed up to make food that was crumb-free because if crumbs were to get into the atmosphere of the spacecraft and into the control board, then the system could have a major failure. NASA also needed to make sure that while they were packing the food, no extra bacteria would get into the container and possibly get the astronauts extremely ill. So the Pillsbury Company came up with HACCP or the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point to help with safe packaging. The HACCP is still in use today and is used to help package seafood and dairy products.

The list goes on and on because, since 1961, NASA has been two or three steps ahead of where the rest of the world is technologically, scientifically, and mathematically. Not because they just want to make something new but because they need to make it. They need to keep evolving to make sure that the astronauts are safe and that whatever they find in space can be used back here on Earth.

Unfortunately, most of NASA was shut down on July 8th, 2011 with the final launch of Project Atlantis. Since NASA wasn't needed anymore for space exploration, they decided to close the majority of NASA. The few things that were not shut down were those who were constantly watching and communication with the Internationlal Space Station and anyone who was needed for the ISS. However, this is not a lot of people because there is only one man from America on the ISS currently. There are also scientists, mathematicians, etc who are needed for the next mission: Project Orion. But that's really it. The next launch for Project Orion is September 2018, however, the next manned mission is 2026.

Most people only think that NASA does just "space-stuff" but without NASA, there would be many things that we, as a population, wouldn't have. NASA has a better list called NASA Spinoff where they go and list what they have helped make and where it was used at the time and what it is used for now.

If you want to see how NASA is improved highway safety, baby food, and GPS, go to https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits... and see just how much a space program affects your everyday life.