In man's desire to learn more about Mars, NASA is developing technologies that would aid researchers and scientist understand the Red Planet better. NASA's technologies are being designed to possibly help man survive in Mars as they explore it further. These technologies, however, are not just being discovered for use in NASA's space exploration projects but also for use here on Earth.
Here are some of the technologies being created for use on Mars that can be used on Earth.
1. TEEK
This came from a sort of an accidental discovery while NASA was trying to make parts to be used in creating a supersonic aircraft. Erik Weiser and his team in the Advanced Materials and Processing Branch of Langley Research Center were trying to make part from a polyimide material (an advanced Polymer) but failed to achieve their goal. They have, however, created a polyimide foam insulation which they named TEEK.
This foam is reported to be able to withstand extremely high and low temperatures that works well for insulating structures. The researchers noted that it can stand heat up to 600 degrees fahrenheit and below zero temperatures. They also discovered that it does not easily burn or produce toxic fumes and can be easily formed. Because of these properties, scientists at Langley are now working on its possible application as sound-proofing of aircrafts, homes, and the likes.
2. Plant and Crop Sensors
Researchers were able to discover the possibility of using sensors to measure a plant's need for water and its over-all health. The idea original came from BioServe Space Technologies, a non-profit research group that NASA is funding based at the University of Colorado Boulder. The information that was gathered by the organization in their study, which started in the early 2000s, is now being used by AgriHouse Brands Ltd.
The commercial company applied this in their creation of a sensor that can be placed directly on a leaf, which relays important information directly to a farmers computer. This technology also uses text messaging for informing farmers their plant's needs, thus cutting down cost on irrigation because farmers would only need to tend to their plants when it needs it.
3. WATEX System
Human survival, as well as plants, is dependent on water. If this is true here on Earth, it is also assumed that it would also be needed on Mars. That is why Alain Gachet, founder and CEO of Radar Technologies International in France, created the WATEX System for water search and distribution more efficient.
Gatchet's creation uses NASA's technology to find water. It used NASA's synthetic aperture radar data, as well as information from the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar and from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mapping to identify possible sources of water. This technology has been successfully applied in northern Kenya where they are able to find 66 trillion gallons of potable water that can used for 70 years in the Turkana region.
NASA is still creating a lot of technologies for Mars. But whether or not these inventions will find its way to be used in the Red Planet, researchers would always find a way for its practical application here on Earth.
