In the 1990s, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory created cameras small enough to fit on spacecraft that could take clear pictures. One-third of all cameras use this technology, including most mobile phones.
The Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center wanted diamond-hard coating for aerospace systems. They created a technique that is now used to protect glasses from getting scratched.
Velcro was used during the Apollo missions to anchor equipment for astronauts' convenience in zero gravity situations. Although it is a Swiss Invention from the 1940s, it is assocated with the Space Program.
In the 1960s, NASA created an electrolytic silver iodizer to purify drinking water in space. People around the world now use this to kill bacteria in water.
NASA developed hands-free and cordless headsets for their astronauts. Now this technology is available to the public in the form of Bluetooth headphones.
In 1962, when astronaut Jon Glenn performed eating experiments in orbit, Tang was selected for the menu. The off-the-shelf General Mills product helped mask flavors in the spacecraft's filtered water, making it popular with astronauts. This helped Tang "take off" with the public.
