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S P I N O F F 1 9 9 3 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology Commercial Development and Technology Transfer Division NASA For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328 ISBN 0-1 6-0421 00-4 F O R E W O R D T he wealth of technology that comes from the exploration of air and space is a valuable national resource and an investment in our future. The new products and processes that arise from our work at the cutting edge of science and engineering contribute to the U.S. economy and to the nation's ability to remain competitive in the global marketplace. While the rigors of the balance sheet are important, there is a larger perspective. Fundarnentally, the work we do in harnessing new technolo- gies can be used to enrich the lives of our citizens and the people of the world. It is added value to society that inspires our missions and motivates our people. At NASA, we understand that in its dormant state, technology has only a potential benefit to people, like oil in the ground. Once removed from the laboratory workbench or the fileroom shelf and put to practical use, technology's real value comes alive. That is when it really begins to work for our people and our country. In 35 years of exploring the frontiers of air and space, NASA has excelled in promoting technology transfer. In many cases, the transfer has been the product of serendipity. We can do better. We have, therefore, beg~~a nse ries of initiatives to improve our technology transfer efforts. One important step was the establishnlent of the Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology (OACT) which serves as a focal point for technology innovation and transfer. OACT bridges the gap between the developnlent of technology and its application. It provides an open door to industrial, academic, and a vari ety of other organizations seeking to tap into the high technology network. I have also issued a policy directive that emphasizes technology transfer as one of the fundamental missions of NASA. It calls for planning technology transfer from the very beginning of our major space and aeronautical programs. In the months ahead, we intend to stimulate and accelerate the creation of new small businesses based on technology innovations. We will improve our partnerships with state and local governments, create new government and industry partnerships where appropriate, and develop outreach programs to strengthen nationwide coordination of technology advancement. I am confident that these and other initkntives will significantly enhance the technology transfer process and enable NASA to expand its already impressive contribution to the nation's economy and competitiveness. Daniel S. Goldin Atli~zirzi.stmtor ,\kiriofznl Arror1u1rtic.s arid Sp~rcrA d171irzistmtiorr I N T R O D U C T I O N I n his February 1993 technology policy statement, President Clinton stated "Technology is the engine of economic growth." Technological innovation is the key element in reinvigorating American competitiveness in the global marketplace, one of the major national goals enunciated by the President. NASA's storehouse of technology plays an important role in this renewal of America's technological base. Because it is transferrable and can be reused again and again, this technology represents a valuable national resource; it can be - and is being - applied in development of new products and processes for the world market. NASA's space and aeronautics programs are the source for technology reapplications, or spinoffs, because they are extraordinarily demanding of technological advance and because the innovations they generate are exceptionally diverse. The technology bank has been well used by American industry. Tens of thousands of secondary applications have emerged, to the benefit of the U.S. economy, job creation, industrial productivity and the nation's lifestyle. By Congressional mandate, NASA is responsible for promoting further expansion of spinoff in the public interest. Through its Technology Transfer Program, NASA seeks to encourage greater use of the technology bank by providing a link between the technology and those who might be able to put it to advantageous secondary use. The program's goal is to broaden and accelerate the spinoff process and to realize increased benefit from the national investment in aerospace research. This publication is an instrument of that intent. Organized in three sections, SpinoJf 1993 is designed to heighten awareness of the technology available for transfer and its potential for public benefit. Section 1 summarizes NASA's space and aeronautics programs, whose challenging objectives require advances across a broad scientific/technological spectrum, continually expanding the bank of technology that may find future application. Section 2, the focal point of this volume, contains a representative sampling of spinoffs that have resulted from the secondary application of NASA technology. Section 3 describes the various mechanisms NASA employs to stimulate technology transfer. It lists, in an appendix, contact sources for further information about the Technology Transfer Program. The technology transfer program is ready to meet the challenge of enhancing NASA contributions to U.S. competitiveness. This effort is forging closer ties between industry, academia and government. In the coming year, NASA will continue to create more opportunities for innovation and investment to flourish to the benefit of the U.S. economy. Gregory M. Reck Acttng Assoc~ateA dmr narrator.f or Advanced Concepts and Technology F O R E W O R D I N T R O D U C T I O N A E R O S P A C E A I M S Toward Future Flight 10 Exploring the Universe 20 Commercial Use of Space 32 Space Operations 42 T E C H N O L O G Y T W I C E U S E D Spinoffs in: Health and Medcine 52 Environment and Resources Management 64 Consumer/Home/Recreation 74 Transportation 84 Public Safety 96 Computer Technology 106 Industrial Productivity/Manufacturing Technology 116 T . E C H N O L O G Y T R A N S F E R Putting Technology to Work 132