Discovering the Cleaning Power of NASA’s Space Innovations
You know, I’ve always been fascinated by the ways in which space exploration can benefit life here on Earth. And as it turns out, the quest to keep astronauts hydrated and their water supplies pristine has led to some truly remarkable innovations in industrial cleaning and water treatment.
Let’s start with the Microbial Check Valve, shall we? This ingenious little device was originally developed in the 1970s for the space shuttle, using a bed of iodinated resin to disinfect drinking water. It was later updated to be self-regenerating for use on the International Space Station. But today, this technology has found its way into water purification units deployed across India, Mexico, Pakistan, and countless remote villages around the world. Talk about making a big impact!
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. NASA’s quest for clean, reusable water has led to innovations in everything from radar imaging to locate hidden groundwater sources, to coliform bacteria testing apps that are now used in 180 countries. It’s like they’ve been quietly revolutionizing the water treatment industry all along, without anyone really noticing.
Harnessing the Power of Aquaporins
Now, one of the coolest NASA-inspired technologies I’ve come across has to be the use of aquaporins in water filtration. Aquaporins are these incredible little protein channels that allow water to pass through cell membranes, one molecule at a time. And in 2007, NASA learned about a Danish company working on incorporating these aquaporins into water filtration membranes.
Naturally, NASA became the company’s first paying customer, funding the development of prototypes and even testing the technology on the International Space Station. And today, Aquaporin AS is selling under-sink water purifiers in Europe and India, as well as using their forward osmosis modules to clean up industrial and municipal wastewater. Talk about taking something from the final frontier and bringing it back down to Earth!
Groundbreaking Water Remediation Techniques
But NASA’s contributions to the world of industrial cleaning and water treatment don’t stop there. In fact, the space agency has even developed unique methods for removing things like chlorinated solvents and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from contaminated groundwater.
After discovering these pollutants in the groundwater around a historic launch complex at Kennedy Space Center, NASA scientists came up with a patented formula called emulsified zero-valent iron, or EZVI. In the 20 years since, this technology has been licensed to several businesses and used in environmental cleanups all over the country.
And get this – one of the Kennedy engineers even went on to invent a similar technology for removing PCBs from groundwater. A company that formed to license that technology in 2017 is already carrying out cleanups around the world. I mean, who would have thought that the quest to explore the final frontier would yield such groundbreaking advancements in industrial cleaning and water remediation?
Powering the Future of Water-Based Propulsion
But NASA’s contributions to the world of water treatment and industrial cleaning don’t stop there. In fact, the agency has even been exploring ways to use water as a rocket fuel for deep-space travel.
You see, it turns out that an electric current can be used to separate water into its two key components – hydrogen (which is NASA’s rocket fuel of choice) and oxygen (which helps it burn). And in 2019, a company called Tethers Unlimited unveiled the first commercial thrusters powered by this electrolyzed water, with years of funding and development support from the space agency.
These innovative thrusters are now going into commercial satellites, allowing them to maintain or change their orbits using this water-based propulsion system. It’s like something straight out of a science fiction movie, but it’s very much a reality, and it all started with NASA’s quest to find new and better ways to use and manage water.
Revolutionizing Agricultural Water Management
And speaking of managing water, NASA has even found ways to help farmers and local governments in drought-stricken regions better understand and conserve their precious water resources. Take the EEFlux tool, for example – it was developed by researchers in the 2010s and uses data from NASA-built satellites to calculate evapotranspiration, which is the best way to determine agricultural water use.
This tool has been a game-changer for water management in dry areas like California, and a similar commercial method from Tule Technologies has even helped some farmers cut their water use by up to 50%. And just last year, NASA and its partners debuted the OpenET online platform, which lets users calculate evapotranspiration anywhere in 17 western states. Talk about making a real difference on the ground!
Uncovering the Hidden Benefits of NASA’s Water Innovations
So, as you can see, NASA’s quest to keep astronauts hydrated and their water supplies pristine has led to some truly remarkable advancements in industrial cleaning and water treatment. From disinfection technologies that are now being used around the world, to groundbreaking methods for removing pollutants from groundwater, to innovative ways of using water as a rocket fuel – the space agency has been quietly revolutionizing the industry, all while reaching for the stars.
And the best part? These NASA-inspired innovations aren’t just benefiting the water treatment industry – they’re also helping to address pressing environmental challenges, conserve precious water resources, and even power the next generation of space exploration. It’s a win-win-win, if you ask me.
So, the next time you turn on your faucet or step into the shower, take a moment to appreciate the hidden benefits of industrial cleaning and water treatment that NASA has helped bring to life. Who knows what other amazing discoveries might be just around the corner?
Inland Waters Inc. is proud to be at the forefront of these innovative water treatment technologies, always striving to provide our customers with the cleanest, most efficient, and most sustainable solutions possible. After all, when it comes to water, every drop counts.
