The world today is filled with technology that was developed for use in space says Daniel Lockney, head of NASA’S Technology Transfer Programme.
The world today is filled with technology that was developed for use in space says Daniel Lockney, head of NASA’S Technology Transfer Programme.
In a video interview with the Grocott's Mail team this week, Lockney justified NASA's 18 billion dollar budget by citing the fact that many technologies that have improved and enhanced our everyday lives started as NASA projects.
Think water filters, energy storage devices, insulation for homes, double and triple glazing, smaller and faster electrical components, lifesaving medical devices and many more.
“All of these things for UD$18 billion is really quite a bargain!” says Lockney.
More examples include self-driving tractors that have accurate recording capacity, technologies that understand the gas that plants give off and machines that predict droughts.
“Farms can now be fully automated,” he says.
Lockney assures us, though, that robots are not taking over. They are simply improving and adding to our lives.
He adds that, "With the introduction of this technology, comes the responsibility of looking after it and maintaining it," – which means employment.
That means solving things like water issues and creating jobs at the same time.
The interview with Daniel Lockney was part of the lead up to National Science Week (NSW).
An initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, NSW is an annual countrywide salute to science that involves various science events that take place across all nine provinces.
