Ever since its creation in 1958, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) has achieved many milestones in advanced space research. But NASA’s activities are not just restricted to space research and exploration, it has contributed immensely to the invention of some break-through products that has become staple to our everyday life.

Over the years NASA has partnered with various research organizations and teams and produced several products that have made life easier for us. From things that seem simple today, like enriched baby food, water filters, and shoe insoles, to more technologically advanced things like long distance telecommunications and camera phones, all have their origin in NASA. Since 1976, every year NASA has published a list of its commercialized inventions and a link to its research. There are more than 1300 commercialized NASA inventions that have benefited the world. It has filed more than 6300 patents with the US government. Let us see what are the top NASA inventions we might be using every day.



1 Water Filters

We all use water filters every day. It has become an indispensable part of our life. But have we ever wondered when water filtering technology was invented? Actually, water filtering technology has been in existence since the early 1950s. NASA wanted to find a way to cleanse water in extreme conditions as astronauts on spaceships have to cleanse water for reuse. Water filters have activated charcoal. Activated charcoal contains silver ions that neutralize pathogens in the water and makes it fit for use. Today, millions of people use water filters to purify water for drinking without even realizing that NASA is behind it.

2 Cordless Tools