Tech Exchange

NASA Tech Needs: Aerospace

Weightless “Weight”-Lifting Builds Muscle on Earth

NASA Technology

NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid spent hundreds of hours exercising during her 188-day stay on the Russian space station Mir in 1996. Although it was her least favorite...

Techs for License: Aerospace

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Aeronautics

FACET: Future Air Traffic Management Concepts Evaluation Tool

FACET flexible software helps air traffic control centers improve airline safety and efficiency. It includes programs and databases that...

Articles: Communications

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Communications

Electronic Firefighter Escape Trail

This technology uses recent advances in Radio Frequency Identification Devices, combined with smart software, to create an electronic firefighter evacuation...

Techs for License: Manufacturing & Prototyping

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program is a true national asset. It brings together the space agency’s most capable problem-solvers with America’s brightest commercial and entrepreneurial leaders in partnerships...

Articles: Electronics & Computers

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Electrical/Electronics

High-Field Superconducting Magnets

This technology represents a significant improvement over commercial state-of-the-art magnets. These superconducting magnets are very versatile and can...

Articles: Green Design & Manufacturing

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Environment

Contaminated Water Treatment

This method offers a way of processing and recycling liquids to remove contaminants. The two-step process provides a contaminant treatment pouch, called a “urine...

Articles: Medical

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Health, Medicine & Biotechnology

Atomic Oxygen Texturing and Cleaning

Atomic oxygen oxidizes and removes biologically active contaminants, and reduces the contaminant to an inactive ash. Thus, the contaminant...

Techs for License: Information Technology

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Information Technology & Software

Enhanced Project Management Tool

This invention is a system for managing a project that includes multiple tasks and workers. Periodic monthly, task plan, schedule, and budget...

Articles: Imaging

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Instrumentation

Powder Handling Device for Analytical Instruments

This technology provides automated sample handling and movement of coarse-grained powder or other solid materials to enable analysis by a...

Techs for License: Manufacturing & Prototyping

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Variable Power Handheld Laser Torch

A handheld laser torch was designed for welding and brazing metals to repair hard-to-reach space shuttle engine nozzles. It incorporates various...

Techs for License: Materials

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Materials & Coatings

Shape Memory Alloys

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) can be deformed at low temperature and recover their original shape upon heating. New alloys can operate up to ~300 °C, compared to ~80 °C...

Techs for License: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Spring Joint Package with Overstrain Sensor

This flexible joint provides two degrees of freedom and a tremendous amount of compliance. The overstrain sensor joint has a passive and...

Articles: Imaging

NASA's Hot 100 Technologies: Optics

Automated Vision Test

The traditional test for visual acuity requires the patient to look and report which letters they see. A new invention provides an automated system to estimate visual acuity based...