Author Description

At the dawn of the space age 50 years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed that "many aspects of space and space technology... can be helpful to all people as the United States proceeds with its peaceful program in space science and exploration. Every person has the opportunity to share through understanding in the adventures which lie ahead." Since its founding in 1958, NASA's exploration and research missions have benefited people around the world through the expansion of our civilization's horizons, the acquisition of knowledge, and the development of new technologies and applications that provide amazing new advances in the quality of human life. The Agency also has endeavored, as President Eisenhower observed, to give every person the opportunity to share in its aeronautics and space adventures. NASA's annual Spinoff publication is part of that effort. Spinoff 2008 highlights NASA's pursuit of its charter to "research, develop, verify and transfer advanced aeronautics, space, and related technologies." Among the more noteworthy NASA-derived technologies featured in this publication are: * An advanced composite developed at NASA, now being used as insulation on thin metal wires connected to implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices * A robotic arm and hand developed for International Space Station repair that has been adapted for use in a minimally invasive knee surgery procedure, in which its precision control makes it ideal for inserting a very small implant * A sensor originally designed for measuring fluid levels in landing gear that is now being used to measure fuel levels and detect water in the gasoline tanks of boat motors * A welding technique perfected at NASA that is reducing time and cost in manufacturing an array of products, as well as providing enhanced design flexibility in automotive, aerospace, structural, and fluid-handling applications While these and scores of other collateral benefits of NASA missions have enr