2009
Space Technology Hall of Fame and Space Certification – 2009 Inductees
Space products and services have become integrated into the global economy, and their significance continues to increase. Some of the ways in which space products and services support various sectors of the greater economy are highlighted in Exhibit 1c.
2009 – Cosmic Discovery: Space Science and Exploration
One of the fundamental rationales for spaceflight is to support science and exploration: to study distant worlds, perform research in new environments, and expand our knowledge of the origin and nature of our planet, solar system, and universe. The frontiers of this research are ever-expanding, both… Thank you for visiting The Space Report! The Authoritative…
2009 – Military Space Activities
Militaries around the globe use space as a force multiplier, a capability that significantly increases the efficiency of other military assets, thereby enhancing the probability of mission success with minimal casualties. Military space capabilities increase the effectiveness of traditional air, gro… Thank you for visiting The Space Report! The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity,…
2009 – Expanding Human Boundaries
For the majority of the space era, human spaceflight was pursued solely by the United States and Russia, or the former Soviet Union. This exclusive club is likely to expand significantly in the future. China has joined the group of nations with orbital human spaceflight capabilities, and in the Unit… Thank you for visiting The…
2009 – Broadening Participation: New Capacities, Policies, and Relationships
Note: This section’s exhibits are from The Space Report 2010. Countries are increasingly pursuing active space programs as political leaders come to view space as a critical component of national development. In 1960 the United States and the Soviet Union were the world’s only spacefaring n… Thank you for visiting The Space Report! The…
Hydrophobic Coatings Inspired by Lotus
Biotechnology breakthroughs are occurring as engineers find inspiration from the lotus plant to develop materials that can overcome the challenging space environment. Studies of lotus plants and their ability to shed water and dirt are inspiring a NASA team to develop a similar capability for use on spacesuits, scientific instruments, robotic rovers, and other devices used for exploring the solar system.
Witnessing Salmonella Migration Into the Bloodstream
The space environment can also be useful for developing medical vaccines. Aboard the Space Shuttle, NASA astronauts conducted research on the effects of spaceflight on salmonella cells. The weightless environment of spaceflight causes the salmonella cells to function as though they are crossing from the intestine into the bloodstream to start an infection.
Rad to the Bone: Exploring Radiation Effects on Human Bones
Research conducted to support astronauts living and working in space may lead to medical treatments to stop bone loss in cancer treatment patients. Microgravity is well known to cause bone loss in astronauts, but recent research shows that elevated radiation levels typical in the space environment also contribute to this effect.
Fighting Ticks and Disease One Image at a Time
College students participating in a NASA internship program are learning to use data from spacecraft to identify habitats of ticks carrying Lyme disease within Alabama and to raise public awareness of the disease. Initially the students determined that Lyme disease bacteria were present in ticks in central Alabama.
Predicting Disease Outbreaks with Earth Observation Data
Data from spacecraft enables research teams from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Global Emerging Infections System and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to monitor and predict disease outbreaks for Rift Valley fever epidemics in East Africa.