NASA Technology Brings Golden Age of Exploration to Earth

Spinoff 2026 marks the 50th year of NASA's publication documenting commercial uses of agency technology and highlights companies adapting lunar and deep-space innovations for Earth applications such as housing, robotics, and medical devices.

Spinoff 2026 marks the publication's 50th year and documents how NASA-developed technologies are being used commercially on Earth. The issue's cover features astronaut Alan Bean holding a container of lunar soil, with astronaut Charles Conrad Jr. reflected in his visor. The agency's Technology Transfer program has the mission of moving NASA innovations into the hands of companies, entrepreneurs, and the public. The edition highlights examples from Artemis-related work through medical devices, housing, and robotics. Notable points: - Spinoff 2026 is the 50th edition chronicling commercial uses of NASA technology. - The cover image shows Alan Bean with a lunar soil sample, with Charles Conrad Jr. reflected in his helmet visor. - NASA's Technology Transfer program is tasked with finding commercial and public applications for agency inventions. - Two companies featured developed 3D-printing equipment for planetary habitats and are applying that technology to wall panels and to additively manufactured housing on Earth. - Two companies that received NASA support for robotic tasks have commercial applications for cleaning, construction, warehouse, and assembly-line work. - The issue highlights 20 technologies ready for commercialization and notes more than 1,300 inventions in NASA's patent portfolio. Summary: The publication presents a range of space-derived technologies now used in sectors such as medicine, aviation, agriculture, construction, and imaging, and it documents historical spinoffs like food-safety procedures, memory foam, and miniaturized camera technology. The Technology Transfer program continues to pursue partnerships and licensing to move inventions from NASA into commercial use. Undetermined at this time.