The Dustbuster - Back in the 1970s, NASA Apollo astronauts were busy taking samples of the moon’s crust to send back to Earth.
Freeze-Dried Food - Although NASA didn't invent the process behind freeze-dried food, they’re one of the major reasons the technology took off.
Athletic Wear Fabrics - Fabrics developed to keep astronauts protected from the inhospitable environment of space have found their way into athletic wear and outdoor apparel.
Fogless Coating for Goggles, Glasses, and More - NASA developed a fogless coating for the glass that was later licensed to more than 60 companies.
Scratch-Resistant Lenses - When the FDA mandated in 1972 that all eyeglasses had to be shatter-resistant, manufacturers replaced glass lenses with plastic.
Cold-Resistant Tires - NASA designed a portable workbench on wheels dubbed the Modularized Equipment Transporter, or MET.
Memory Foam - NASA originally developed memory foam to improve the comfort and safety of astronaut seats.
Aluminized Mylar - Another NASA inventions we see regularly in aluminized mylar. This super-lightweight, silvery sheet is shiny on one side to reflect heat.
Aluminized Polymer Insulation - The shiny film was so efficient at reflecting radiation that companies began using it as insulation in homes and commercial buildings.
Elements of Consumer Laptops - NASA added its tech to an early laptop in the mid-1980s. On a Space Shuttle mission in 1983, NASA astronauts first used the Shuttle Portable Onboard Computer or SPOC.