NASA made memory foam to keep astronauts, pilots, and people from getting hurt. It is a soft cushion. We use it for beds, couches, chairs, shoes, and football helmets.
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NASA partnered with Kirby, a company that makes vacuum cleaners. NASA had computer programs that showed how air traveled through fans. Kirby designed new fan blades with the help of NASA’s computer programs. The vacuum cleaner blades were stronger and could go 18,000 spins per minute. The vacuum cleaner was quieter.
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In 1971 fire chiefs asked NASA to help create a lighter firefighter’s breathing system by adapting space suits. In the process they developed a method known as blow rubber molding on athletic shoes. It made the shoes lighter and more shock absorbing.
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The computer joystick came from NASA. Astronauts used it to practice landing and steering the space shuttle.
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Was invented by george de Mestral when he and his dog had burrs all over them from a hike in the woods. Velcro became popular in the 1960’s when NASA and the Apollo astronauts used velcro to secure items on the spaceships.
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