NASA was founded in 1958 with three mandates: improve life here, extend life to there, and find life beyond. This book focuses on the improvement of life here from medical breakthroughs like laser angioplasty and insulin pumps to sports enhancements like better ski boots and improved golf clubs. One cannot fail to be impressed with the practical outcomes of what is thought of as space research. \\The book highlights 67 individual, consumer-friendly entries covering products and technologies developed or improved upon because of space related research and technology development. The entries range from smoke detectors to cordless tools to the scratch resistant coating for eyeglasses.

CG.

Airline deicer, "ice zapper" -- Anthrax protection -- Anti-fog spray -- Anti-shock trousers -- Athletic shoe improvements -- Baby food -- Better braces -- Biofeedback improvements -- Bionic eyes -- Breast biopsy system -- Burn treatment -- Child presence sensor -- Cold-weather clothing -- Cool suits -- Cordless tools -- Digital nose -- Doppler radar, helping aircraft avoid danger -- Ergonomic chairs -- Fire safety -- Food preparation -- Fresher vegetables -- Glasses and sunglasses improvements -- Golf ball improvements -- Golf club improvements -- Hang gliders -- Healing light -- Heart monitor improvements -- Heart pump -- Heart rate monitor -- Implantable cardiac defibrillator -- Infrared detector improvements -- Infrared thermometer -- Insulin pumps -- Joysticks for computers -- Knee brace improvements -- Landmine removal -- Laptop computers -- Laser angioplasty -- Memory foam -- Memory metals -- Microthermal fabrics -- Osteoporosis detection and prevention -- Pacemaker improvements -- Pill transmitters -- Pool filters -- Quantum tubers -- Race car insulation -- Railroad anti-icer -- Rescue cutters -- Riblets for drag reduction -- Robotic surgery -- Satellite radio -- Saving harbor porpoises -- Self-contained ecosystems -- Self-righting life raft -- Ski boot improvements -- Smart surgical probe -- Space pen -- "Space Rose" perfume -- Stadium roofs -- Toy gliders -- Traffic intersection safety -- Video camera improvements -- Virtual reality -- Weather, climate, and geologic mapping -- Wildfire control -- ZeoponiX -- Appendix A. A brief history of NASA / Stephen J. Garber, Roger D. Launius -- Appendix B. Regional Technology Transfer Centers -- Appendix C. NASA field centers and facilities -- Appendix D. NASA's Space Product Development program -- Appendix E. Lesson plans -- Appendix F. What's on the Web -- Appendix G. Glossary.