The space industry is full of discovery and innovation. Missions are launched every year, technology is advancing faster than ever before, and space science is paving the way for future generations. In fact, space science is responsible for some of the technologies that are changing our lives today!
While time travel and teleportation haven’t been discovered (yet), here are some examples of incredible advances made in the space industry that currently improve our lives on Earth.
#1: Apps that help us fall asleep faster
Sleeping in space isn’t easy. Surroundings can be noisy and mission schedules are generally hectic and demanding. To help astronauts ensure a good night’s sleep, NASA funded research into treating sleep deprivation — a space science study that led to the development of a sleep-enhancing app, Sleep Genius.
The app works through periodic vibrations that achieve low-amplitude vestibular stimulation, which essentially feels as relaxing as “riding comfortably in the backseat of a sedan”. And if you’re wondering how effective the app is, it turns out that77-80% of patients who used the audio program reported sleeping better at night!
#2: In-flight Wi-Fi
In-flight entertainment can make a 20-hour flight seem like a short night at the movies, but in-flight Wi-Fi takes entertainment and utility to the next level. In-flight Wi-Fi make sit more convenient to stream whatever type of media you’d like at 40,000 feet in the air — from making your way through your Netflix list to downloading eBooks. In-flight Wi-Fi could even provide a convenient excuse to get ahead of a work to-do list for those traveling for business purposes.
One of the reasons in-flight Wi-Fi works is because of the satellites built by NASA technology. Antennae fitted on airplanes communicate with these satellites through signals, and the satellites are linked to operation centers run by service providers on the ground.
#3: More nutritious baby formula
Did you know that most baby formulas on the market have been developed because of space science research?
NASA-sponsored research originally investigated algae as a recycling agent for long periods of space travel. Because of this research, an algae-based ingredient rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids was discovered. NASA said these acids are naturally found in human milk and are “associated with mental and visual development”.
