What's NASA doing for you right now? If you like a good microbrew, one answer might be bubbles.

An aerospace expert with a history of helping NASA develop useful technology for the mission to Mars has found a way to use some of that technology to help cut small brewers' costs.

Fermenting beer produces carbon dioxide, which large breweries capture to use later in carbonating their product. Small brewers haven't had that capture technology until now, so they've let the gas dissipate and carbonate their beer with C02 they truck in. They pay for it, so you'll pay for it, too.

Pioneer Energy of Lakewood, Co., has developed the aptly named CO2 Craft Brewery Recovery System. It's a mobile cart that lets small brewers do what the big guys can.

"Our system produces about five tons of carbon dioxide per month," says developer Robert Zubrin, adding that this amount could supply a brewery that makes up to 60,000 barrels of beer per year. For those making more, the units can be stacked for more capacity.

Why is NASA interested in systems like this? Because Mars' atmosphere is 96 percent CO2. Turning it into fuel, water and breathable air is a big priority.