Heart monitors
The Mercury and Gemini projects developed sophisticated monitoring systems to track the physiological progress of the astronauts as they entered and exited Earth’s orbit. Today this technology is used in intensive care units and specialist heart units.

Competition swimsuits
NASA have developed a phenomenal swimsuit. Small, barely visible grooves applied to the fabric of the suit reduce friction and aerodynamic drag. Testing shows 15% faster speeds when athletes wear the NASA modified swimwear.

Breast cancer detection
The Hubble telescope returned incredible images of the Eagle Nebula, but now the Charge Coupled Device (CCD) chips, used to photograph galaxies light years away, are being applied to breast screening. The CCD chips are so advanced that they can detect the minute differences between malignant or benign tumours.

Runway technology
NASA researchers discovered that cutting thin grooves across concrete runways reduces the risk of aquaplaning aircraft. Excess water drains along the grooves, increasing tire fiction in wet conditions. This technology has been adopted at airports around the world.

Self-righting raft
NASA’s Self-righting life raft was developed for the Apollo program.
It inflates in 12 seconds, protecting the astronauts making a landing in water during extreme weather conditions.