STAR TREK LIVE! - Ontario Science Centre

Teachers Resource Manual
Experiment: Space Technology Spin-offs
Metal baseball bat
Running shoes
Nike Air
Computer mouse
Ear thermometer
Cordless telephone headset
Emergency reflective blanket
Cordless drill
Black & Decker
Bicycle helmet
Bar codes
Spin-off
Origin
Metals used in space need to be strong. One type of strong metal that scientists
made is liquid metal. It is strong, elastic, and durable. This metal replaces titanium.
This metal can form baseball bats, golf clubs, and bicycle frames. It can also
make airplanes, medical tools, and cellular phones.
NASA used a special method to create space suits to walk on the Moon. The
space suits need to absorb shocks from moving around. The process is “blow
rubber molding.” It fills the space inside a mold with shock-absorbing materials. A
NASA engineer had an idea to use the same process on Earth. We use it to create
shock-absorbing running shoes!
A person working on an early version of computers had an idea. His idea was for
a device that could make computers more useful. He proposed his idea to NASA.
He got enough money to make this device. The device was first called a bug.
Now, we call it the mouse!
NASA developed a technology using infrared. It measured the temperature of
stars and planets. Infrared is the range of wavelengths found just past the color
red on the light spectrum. It is a range of wavelengths that we cannot see. Any
heat source gives off infrared. Even your body does! This space technology was
made into a thermometer. It measures your body temperature through your ear!
Astronauts in space need to communicate with people on Earth. NASA helped
create hands-free radio headsets. Police, fire, taxicab, and other radio dispatch
centers use this technology. New products came from this. The Bluetooth headsets
for phones and laptops were created!
NASA spacecrafts are made with a metal insulation. It protects astronauts from
the Sun. This metal can make film, fabric, paper, or foam. Emergency blankets
that reflect body heat were created from this metal. They are thin and lightweight.
These blankets help keep a person warm for hours in the cold outdoors.
Astronauts gather samples from the Moon. We analyze the samples on Earth.
They use drills to dig into the lunar rock. There are no power outlets on the Moon
to plug their tools. NASA helped create small, lightweight, battery-powered drills.
We now use these drills in construction work and in medical offices for surgery.
NASA came up with a material that absorbs shock. They used this to make aircraft
seats. It is called temper foam. This foam lines the inside of bicycle helmets.
The bicycle helmet shape comes from airfoil research. Airfoil is the shape of a
wing that improves how an aircraft flies.
A spacecraft consists of millions of parts. NASA developed a bar code system to
keep track of all parts. Vendors now use bar codes to keep track of their products,
from how much is sold to how much is in stock.
Space Technology Spin-offs
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