Space Exploration should Continue:

 

Many people think that space technology only contribute to exploring the outer space and creating technology that can only help to explore the outer world but this is a misconception, We are surrounded every day by technologies developed for space exploration. Space exploration has created new markets and new technologies that have spurred our economy and changed our lives in many ways, These advances are found in our food, our building materials, medical procedures and the vehicles we drive, so it is actually an investment that improves the quality of our lives.
These are the reasons why this is truly a big step forward towards future progress:


Scratch-Resistant Lenses
In an attempt to find diamond-hard coatings for aerospace systems, the Lewis Research Center contributed to making sunglass lenses more resistant to scratches and spotting. A technique for creating diamond-hard coatings was developed and patented, and in the late 1980s Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. got a license to use the patent. The technique was further developed and later used to make lenses that are scratch-resistant and shed water more easily.

CAT Scanners, Radiography, Microscope
A space program needs a pretty good digital image analysis to locate and measure objects. Digital imaging is the computer processed numerical representation of physical images.This has proven incredibly useful in a variety of medical technologies, like CAT scanners, radiography and microscopy.
  
Infrared Ear Thermometers
Diatek Corporation and NASA developed an aural thermometer, which weighs only 8 ounces and uses infrared astronomy technology to measure the amount of energy emitted by the eardrum, the same way the temperature of stars and planets is measured. This method avoids contact with mucous membranes, virtually eliminating the possibility of cross infection, and permits rapid temperature measurement of newborn, critically-ill, or incapacitated patients.

Artificial Limbs

NASA’s continued funding, coupled with its collective innovations in robotics and shock-absorption/comfort materials are inspiring and enabling the private sector to create new and better solutions for animal and human prostheses. Advancements such as Environmental Robots Inc.’s development of artificial muscle systems with robotic sensing and actuation capabilities for use in NASA space robotic and extravehicular activities are being adapted to create more functionally dynamic artificial limbs .

Firefighter Gear

Firefighting equipment widely used throughout the United States is based on a NASA development that coupled Agency design expertise with lightweight materials developed for the U.S. Space Program. A project that linked NASA and the National Bureau of Standards resulted in a lightweight breathing system including face mask, frame, harness, and air bottle, using an aluminum composite material developed by NASA for use on rocket casings. Aerospace technology has been beneficially transferred to civil-use applications for years, but perhaps the broadest fire-related technology transfer is the breathing apparatus worn by firefighters for protection from smoke inhalation injury. Additionally, NASA  developed a specialized mask weighing less than 3 ounces to protect the physically impaired from injuries to the face and head, as well as flexible, heat-resistant materials developed to protect the space shuttle on reentry which are being used both by the military and commercially in suits for municipal and aircraft-rescue firefighters.

Consumer, Home, and Recreation

Temper Foam

As the result of a program designed to develop a padding concept to improve crash protection for airplane passengers, Ames Research Center developed a foam material with unusual properties. The material is widely used and commonly known as temper foam or “memory foam.” The material has been incorporated into a host of widely used and recognized products including mattresses, pillows, military and civilian aircraft, automobiles and motorcycles, sports safety equipment, amusement park rides and arenas, horseback saddles, archery targets, furniture, and human and animal prostheses. Its high-energy absorption and soft characteristics not only offer superior protection in the event of an accident or impact, but enhanced comfort and support for passengers on long flights or those seeking restful sleep. Today, temper foam is being employed by NASCAR to provide added safety in racecars.

Portable Cordless Vacuums

Apollo and Gemini space mission technologies created by Black & Decker have helped change the way we clean around the house. For the Apollo space mission, NASA required a portable, self-contained drill capable of extracting core samples from below the lunar surface. Black & Decker was tasked with the job, and developed a computer program to optimize the design of the drill’s motor and insure minimal power consumption. That computer program led to the development of a cordless miniature vacuum cleaner called the Dustbuster.

 And those are just a few, in hindsight throughout the years it has proven that this endeavor really improves the quality of our lives throughout the years of developing ways to explore the outer space, through serendipity our lives have become more easier than ever before, in the future it will become an asset that will be extremely invaluable to our future lifestyle and has already and will be in the future a benefit to the whole world.

http://www.care2.com/causes/5-things-we-have-thanks-to-space-exploration.html
http://www.universetoday.com/37079/benefits-of-space-exploration/

http://www.nasa.gov/50th/50th_magazine/benefits.html
http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/iphone-5-camera-640x469.jpg

http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff/spinitem?title=Image+Sensors+Enhance+Camera+Technologies
http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/iphone-5-camera-640x469.jpg

http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff/spinitem?title=Image+Sensors+Enhance+Camera+Technologies
http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff/spinitem?title=Rocket+Engine+Innovations+Advance+Clean+Energy

http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff1998/ard8.htm

http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff/spinitem?title=Water+Filtration+Products

http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff/spinitem?title=Bacteria+Provide+Cleanup+of+Oil+Spills%2C+Wastewater

http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff/spinitem?title=Water+Purification+Systems
http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits.html