Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761
sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 09-260
NASA SPINOFF 2009 HIGHLIGHTS TECHNOLOGIES THAT IMPROVE LIFE ON EARTH
WASHINGTON -- The 2009 edition of NASA's Spinoff, a publication that
shows how NASA technology is being put to use in everyday life here
on Earth, is available in print and online.
The latest Spinoff highlights 49 significant examples of how NASA
innovations have been transferred to the commercial marketplace,
resulting in healthcare advances, transportation breakthroughs,
public safety initiatives, new consumer goods, environmental
protection, computer technology, and industrial productivity.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, this
year's edition of Spinoff also recaps how Apollo continues to provide
tangible benefits to the lives of people in the U.S. and around the
world.
Highlights of Spinoff 2009 include:
* How a NASA scientist-licensed Hubble Space Telescope scheduling
technology and adapted it to help hospitals handle dynamic
rescheduling issues. Using the On-Cue system, one hospital reported a
12 percent increase in procedure volume, a 35 percent reduction in
staff overtime, and significant reductions in backlog and technician
phone time.
* The Givens Buoy Life Raft incorporates a NASA-developed raft design
used for recovering pioneer astronauts after ocean splashdowns, has
been credited with saving more than 400 lives.
* An adapted Hubble Space Telescope star-mapping algorithm is helping
researchers track the elusive whale shark using the unique spots on
the shark's skin. Using the algorithm and a photograph database
receiving contributions from scuba divers worldwide, researchers last
year documented more than 2,400 sightings of the rare animal.
Previously, there were only a few hundred documented sightings in
total.
* Using NASA satellite data, WorldWinds Inc. supplies about 8,500 XM
satellite radio subscribers with its FishBytes fish locator service.
FishBytes helps anglers target areas most likely to be frequented by
their favorite types of sport fish.
Spinoff 2009 also highlights NASA research and development activities
that are helping to make NASA's future missions a reality and
profiles NASA education efforts and partnership successes. It also
provides reference information and resources available through the
NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program.
Print copies of Spinoff 2009 are available on request by calling
301-286-0561. An online version is available at:
http://spinoff.nasa.gov An archive of Spinoff features and a searchable database of more than
1,600 NASA-derived technologies featured in past issues of the
publication also are available at the Spinoff site.
An interactive Spinoff 2009 DVD featuring videos and Web links will be
available through the Spinoff Web site later this month.
To access an interactive feature about how NASA impacts your daily
life, visit the NASA City and Home Web site at:
http://www.nasa.gov/city For more information about NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program,
visit:
http://www.ipp.nasa.gov For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
