NASA-derived technology is highlighted

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The 2008 edition of the U.S. space agency's Spinoff publication celebrates NASA's 50th anniversary by highlighting space technology now being used on Earth.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's annual publication features a 50-year time line of NASA-derived technologies from historical programs and projects and a summary of award-winning NASA technologies included in Spinoff over the years.

"The results of NASA research and technology are all around us, providing benefits to many aspects of our daily lives and well-being," said NASA's Deputy Administrator Shana Dale.

Some examples listed in Spinoff include advanced polymer coatings for implantable devices to help avert heart failure, robotic technology used for minimally invasive knee surgery; space suit-derived textiles to help protect firefighters and race car drivers, and astronaut food supplements now in worldwide use to improve baby formula.

A Spinoff 2008 database of more than 1,600 NASA-derived technologies is available at http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/.