When working conditions in a warehouse are risky or a toxic spill is particularly hazardous for cleanup crews, a robot designed to perform those risky tasks could keep people safe and work schedules on track. But the technology development for specialized robotics can be time-consuming and cost-prohibitive, so many ideas never make it off the page. In space, though, robotics are often a necessity, and some of that technology makes its way into hazardous environments on Earth.

Unlike humans, with our mere five senses, mechanical systems can be rigged to sense just about anything, at any threshold, often in environments people couldn’t endure. NASA uses sensors to monitor conditions ranging from the interior of a jet engine to the vacuum of space, and they measure anything from wind currents to trace gases.  

With a shared commitment to fostering U.S. economic growth that benefits the American public, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration in transferring federally-developed technology into the private sector, known as tech transfer. 

For over two decades, Paul Gradl, now a principal propulsion engineer, has been inventing solutions to address the challenges of space travel. He started as an intern and now holds five patents – three of which are licensed by commercial industry.

Innovations for space lead to new technologies on Earth supporting health and wellness – from cancer detection and treatment to surgical cameras and ai

Curious about licensing groundbreaking NASA technologies for your business? In this post, we dive into the most frequently asked questions about the NASA Technology Transfer Program’s licensing process. Read on for practical insights on how to unlock innovative solutions and bring space-age advancements to your enterprise.

From the Earth to the Moon, Jackie Quinn, an environmental engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is an innovation powerhouse. She’s applying her Earth-bound experience to technology for the lunar surface as the project manager for the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operation (MSOLO) instrument and The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrains (TRIDENT) drill.