Space Products & Innovation
2005 – Space-Themed Tourism
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is recognized as the world’s most visited museum. For 2005, a total of ## people visited the museum building on the Mall, which on average attracts more than ## million people annually, and ## visited the affiliated Udvar-Hazy Center.
2005 – Benefits of Technology Transfer
Space technologies can also be used by manufacturers to create, modify or improve new and existing components and products which, in turn, provide industry, commercial users and ultimately the general public with a wider choice of robust and reliable goods.
2005 – Spinoffs
Technology developed in association with space activities is used in many industries and non-space applications. Technology is transferred through intentional efforts by governments to identify new applications, as well as through organic adaptation of technologies, via connections among researchers, labs, and companies.
2005 – Space Products and Services Overview
We have characterized space products and services as directly enabled by space infrastructure and intended to be in the space environment or directly interacting with the space environment.
The year 2005 saw growth in subscribers and offerings for mobile satellite services, launches of probes to explore Mars and Venus, a probe landing on Saturn’s moon Titan, and growth in commercial space transportation services.
More Focus on Space Manufacturing Market
A longer-term (20-30 years) market for manufacturing in space has attracted some interest. For the most part, attention has focused on the innovative materials that can be produced on orbit. As demonstrated on the space shuttle and ISS, microgravity environment in space allows for the homogenous mixing of metals, the growth of pure crystals, and contamination-free processing in general.
GPS Tracking with RFID
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, in combination with GPS tracking, are slowly beginning to be used more in logistics. Because RFID tags can be read at small distances, their use would greatly simplify and automate much of the tracking work.
Private Human Space Launch
NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) is designed to encourage private investment in space transportation. Currently, no privately developed rocket is capable of meeting NASA’s needs, but the agency is pursuing agreements for capability demonstrations and hopes to find a contractor for ISS resupply by 2010.
GPS Augmentation For Accuracy
Applications of GPS technology have revolutionized air traffic control, shifting it from radar-based tools to more accurate and cost-effective systems using satellite technologies. In the United States, the airspace tracking system is called the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system.
Running Factories from Afar
Satellite systems also are essential for communication between management and remote manufacturing facilities. By outsourcing part of the manufacturing process, companies can reduce labor costs but often must cope with limited terrestrial infrastructure. Satellites provide a cost-effective method of retaining communications infrastructure without running fiber from the nearest population center.
Your Personal GPS Will Tell You Where The Closest Coffee Shop Is
Personal navigation systems are a quickly growing application of GPS for the consumer market. In-vehicle navigation systems can be purchased as an integral component of the car’s systems or an autonomous dashboard navigation unit.