NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA powers innovation that creates new jobs, new markets, and new technologies.

Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training (FAST) NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program has selected seven Small Business Innovation Research program, or SBIR, companies to participate in reduced-gravity test flights in early September. The companies will have the opportunity to test their newly developed hardware on an aircraft that simulates the weightless conditions of spaceflight. The flights will the first by NASA's Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training program, called FAST. › Visit Site

Rocketing Through Water Swimmers around the world are breaking records this year like never before, including at this week's U.S. Olympic trials. Some attribute it to extensive training as athletes prepare to compete at this summer's games in Beijing. Others say one factor may be a new swimsuit … a space-age swimsuit made of fabric tested at NASA. › Visit Site

Space Technology Hall of Fame Inducts NASA Spinoff Technology The Space Foundation recently inducted three NASA-developed technologies into the Space Technology Hall of Fame. A medical diagnostic software tool that measures the thickness of arteries, a non-invasive medical device that improves blood flow to the heart and brain, and a technology that safely removes petroleum-based pollutants from water or soil each are being recognized as important products that originated from space technology. › Visit Site

The Home Planet: NASA's View of Earth As humanity ventures farther into the solar system, the focus on our home planet is as sharp as ever. › View Interactive Feature

NASA Home & City Discover how space exploration impacts your daily life › View NASA Home & City

NASA Anatomy: How space technology improves human health. › View NASA Anatomy

NASA Spinoff 2007 Highlights Space Innovation in Everyday Life Spinoff 2007 highlights 39 new examples of how NASA innovation can be transferred to the commercial market place and applied to areas such as health and medicine, transportation, public safety, consumer goods, homes and recreation, environmental and agricultural resources, computer technology and industrial productivity. › View NASA Spinoff 2007

NASA Names New Composite Government Invention of the Year A device that can act like muscle and nerves to expand and contract surfaces is the 2007 NASA Government Invention of the Year. NASA's Macro-Fiber Composite, or MFC, can be attached to a structure to bend it, reduce vibrations and monitor force. A team at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., created the flexible and durable material that uses ceramic fibers. By applying voltage to the MFC, the ceramic fibers change shape to expand or contract and turn the resulting force into a bending or twisting action on the material. Likewise, voltage is generated in proportion to the force applied to the MFC material. › View NASA Invention

NASA Contributions Interactive page featuring NASA-developed technologies that have "real world" applications. › View NASA Contributions

NASA Aeronautics Research Onboard: Interactive Web site showcasing "Decades of Contributions to Aviation". › View NASA Aeronautics Research Onboard

Innovative Partnership Programs (IPP) The transfer, application and commercialization of NASA-funded technology, occurs in many ways–knowledge sharing, technical assistance, intellectual property licensing, cooperative research and technology projects, and other forms of partnership. Learn how NASA technology has moved into the marketplace and contributed to the NASA Mission Directorates, and the nation's prosperity. › More Information on Innovative Partnership Programs