When most individuals consider NASA, they image rockets, astronauts, and the Moon. However behind the scenes, a bunch of inventors is quietly rewriting the principles of what’s doable — on Earth, in orbit, and past. Their groundbreaking innovations ultimately change into expertise out there for trade, serving to to form new services and products that enhance life across the globe. For his or her contributions to NASA expertise, we welcome 4 new inductees into the 2024-2025 NASA Inventors Corridor of Fame
Myron (Ron) Diftler led the group behind Robonaut 2 (R2), a humanoid robotic developed with Normal Motors. The objective was to create a robotic that would assist people each in area and on the manufacturing facility flooring. The R2 robotic turned the primary humanoid robotic in area aboard the Worldwide House Station, and a part of its expertise was licensed to be used on Earth, resulting in a grip-strengthening robotic glove to assist people with strenuous, repetitive duties. From factories to area exploration, Diftler’s work has real-world affect.
Know-how developed to at some point discover the floor of Venus needs to be powerful sufficient to outlive the planet the place temperatures hit 860°F and the environment is akin to battery acid. Philip Neudeck’s silicon carbide built-in circuits don’t simply work — they ran for over 60 days in simulated Venus-like situations. On Earth, these chips can enhance effectivity in wi-fi communication techniques, assist make drilling for oil safer, and allow extra sensible electrical autos.
From creating more durable chip supplies to unlocking new planetary missions, Neudeck is proving that the way forward for electronics isn’t nearly velocity — it’s about survival.
Gary Hunter helped develop a hydrogen sensor so superior it’s being thought of for a future mission to Titan, Saturn’s icy moon. These and a variety of different sensors he’s helped developed have functions that transcend area exploration, corresponding to manufacturing facility flooring right here on Earth.
With new missions on the horizon and smarter sensors in improvement, Hunter continues to be pushing the boundaries of what NASA expertise can do. Whether or not it’s Titan, the floor of Venus, or someplace we haven’t dreamed of but, this work may assist form the best way to get there.
Superior supplies, corresponding to foams and composites, are key to unlocking the subsequent era of producing. From area exploration to trade, Erik Weiser spent years contributing his experience to the event of polymers, ceramics, metals, nanomaterials, and extra. He’s named on greater than 20 patents. Throughout this time, he offered his foam experience to the House Shuttle Columbia accident investigation, the Shuttle Discovery Return-to-Flight Investigation and quite a few groups geared towards enhancing the protection of the shuttle.
At this time, Weiser serves as director of the Services and Actual Property Division at NASA Headquarters, overseeing the muse of NASA’s missions. Whether or not it’s advancing analysis or optimizing actual property throughout the company, he’s serving to launch the long run, one facility at a time.
