12 Inventions You Didn’t Know Came from Space Travel
From memory foam to GPS, these 12 surprising inventions show how space travel has quietly transformed everyday life on Earth in unexpected ways.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Space exploration is not only about rockets and astronauts—it’s also the hidden source behind many of the everyday conveniences we take for granted. From cordless power tools and GPS to life-saving medical equipment, NASA’s innovations have ignited breakthroughs that touch almost every part of modern life. This list uncovers 12 unexpected inventions created through space travel, each with an interesting story of how science in the stars improved life here on Earth.
1. Memory Foam
Image from Wikipedia
NASA originally created memory foam in the 1960s to enhance the safety of aircraft cushions. Memory foam was also created to distribute shock and increase comfort. Its molding properties to the body and ability to distribute pressure evenly made it a perfect cushion for astronauts who would be experiencing severe G-forces. Today, memory foam appears in mattresses, pillows, footwear, and even football helmets.
2. Scratch-Resistant Lenses
Image from Pelini Eyecare
NASA required a means to shield space helmet visors from damage on flights. The answer was the agency’s diamond-hard coating, which has been used on eyeglasses ever since. Today, millions of individuals enjoy daily benefits from longer-lasting clear lenses.
3. Cordless Power Tools
Image from The New York Times
When NASA and Black & Decker teamed up for the Apollo program, they created a battery-powered drill for collecting moon samples. This innovation laid the groundwork for today’s cordless tools in homes and garages everywhere. Without space exploration, your Sunday DIY project might still require an extension cord.
4. Insulin Pumps
Image from Gluroo
The insulin pump technology was inspired by systems created to track and provide essential chemicals to astronauts in space. NASA’s life-support monitoring systems directly impacted how physicians could control insulin more effectively in diabetics. Today’s small, wearable pumps provide life-altering convenience to millions.
5. Water Purification Systems
Image from DOST
Maintaining astronauts’ health in space requires ways to recycle water safely. NASA created high-tech filtration and purification systems that could eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other impurities. These technologies are now utilized to deliver clean drinking water during disaster situations and in remote regions across the globe.
6. Infrared Ear Thermometers
Image from Microlife AG
NASA infrared technology, created to record the temperature of stars and space vehicles, later became medicine. Infrared thermometer ear models use the tech to quickly measure body temperature in a contact-less manner. That’s why a pediatric checkup is now a quick, anxiety-free experience.
7. Freeze-Dried Food
Image from Raw Bites PH
Space travel requires light, durable, and wholesome food. NASA developed freeze-drying methods that retained taste and nutritional content and cut weight by a huge margin. Due to space research, freeze-dried strawberries now appear in cereal and survival packages.
8. Satellite Navigation (GPS)
Image from Uniting Aviation
Although not entirely created by NASA, the technology and evolution of satellite navigation were largely spurred by space exploration and defense agencies. The accuracy, timing, and coordination needs of space missions provided the basis for today’s GPS. If you’re hiking or driving, you’re enjoying space-age technology.
9. Fire-Resistant Materials
Image from Retter Workwear
Space tragedies such as the Apollo 1 fire prompted NASA to create sophisticated fire-resistant materials for astronauts’ suits and space vehicle interiors. The technology eventually found its way into civilian clothing, upholstery, and firemen’s uniforms. Flame-resistant racing suit material and children’s pajamas owe their existence to these space-age innovations.
10. Portable Vacuum Cleaners
Image from Philips
Black & Decker’s collaboration with NASA on electric power tools also resulted in creating the world’s first cordless vacuum cleaner. Invented to be used on the Apollo spacecraft, this light technology lightened the load of housekeeping on Earth. It later inspired such products as the DustBuster.
11. Artificial Limbs
Image from The Tufts Daily
Space technology applied to robotic arms and exoskeletons found its way into materials and structures applied to contemporary prosthetics. NASA-developed lightweight composites and pressure-sensitive controls have enhanced the performance and comfort of artificial limbs. It’s among the strongest instances of space tech that directly improves life on Earth.
12. Temper Foam in Airplane Seats
Image from ACM Aerospace
Aside from mattresses, NASA’s memory foam was also used in commercial airline seats to minimize the effect of crash landings. The energy-absorbing material was made a norm in aviation safety. So as you recline in your airplane seat, you’re getting some space-age security.