Amy
[ Music ]
When you think of the word, "innovation",
what kinds of things do you think of?
Perhaps things like the internet?
Cars. Airplanes.
Antibiotics and cell phones.
What about when you think of NASA?
Do you think of rockets blasting off into space?
Or fantastically colored images of distant galaxies?
NASA's innovations.
Those amazing technologies that enable rockets
and the transmission of images from planets
in our solar system have had a tremendous impact closer
to home.
Everyone in this room has benefitted from NASA innovation.
From quieter aircraft.
To cleaner water.
To enhanced crop yields.
To fire suppression systems.
To the microchips and the tiniest cameras
in your cell phones.
NASA's innovation benefits us all.
Arguably, one of the most impactful
of NASA's innovations is space communications.
Since its inception, NASA has pioneered space communications.
Starting with passive satellite experiments
where large surfaces, such as those of a balloon,
were used to reflect signals to a receiver.
These experiments went well, and in 1958,
NASA launched its first dynamic satellite called, "Explorer 1".
Explorer revolutionized space exploration.
For the first time, science data can be transmitted to Earth.
Our understanding of space grew exponentially,
starting with the study of the Van Allen Radiation Belts.
NASA's disruptive work in space communication continued
with a partnership with the Canadian Department
of Communications to develop the Communications
Technology Satellite.
Launched in 1976, this satellite enabled,
for the very first time, real-time, direct communications
to individual homes and communities.
Operating at much higher powers and frequencies
than earlier satellites,
the communications technology satellite demonstrated
telemedicine to remote areas of Canada and the delivery
of educational programming.
This crucially important work was acknowledged in 1987
when the National Academy of Television Arts
and Sciences awarded the Emmy
to the Canadian Communications Research Center and NASA,
celebrating the great accomplishments in the field
of television broadcasting and its applications.
These advances led to many satellites operating
in the geosynchronous orbit.
Which is quickly becoming overcrowded.
Plus, commercial companies are seeking greater communications
capacity to support many services, such as high-speed,
high-security financial transactions.
And wireless mobile networks for consumers.
In response, NASA launched its most revolutionary breakthroughs
in space communication.
The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite.
This satellite, launched in 1993, is the first all-digital,
gigabit capacity communications satellite, carrying data
at standard fiber optic data rates.
With the same transmission quality.
Operating at even higher frequencies,
the technologies onboard this satellite enabled the
transmission of even more data to even the most remote areas
on Earth using small portable antennas.
Services such as remote medical imaging diagnostics,
global personal communications, and the interconnection
of distal super computers were demonstrated for the first time.
NASA partnered with hundreds of scientists and engineers
at universities and corporations to develop applications
that we take for granted today.
Such as live video conferencing.
Making and receiving phone calls in our cars.
And the uninterrupted satellite transmission of live television.
NASA continues to make space communications more powerful
and even more flexible,
by introducing a new communications test bed called
The Space Communications and Navigation -- or SCAN --
launched in 2012 and installed
on the International Space Station.
The SCAN is an on-orbit, adaptable,
software defined radio facility, with corresponding ground
and operational systems.
Software defined radio is the next evolution in fast
and secure communication.
A fully programmable radio that can be remotely reconfigured
to change the functionality of radio communications
through software in space.
Software-defined radio offers a flexible, affordable, adaptable,
and powerful way to maintain
and expand our current standard of communication.
From binge-watching "Game
of Thrones" along the beautiful shores of Lake Erie,
to Rocky Mount as you drive across the country
to visit your Aunt Donna in Kansas, to emergency operations
in disaster-stricken areas.
NASA's advances
in communications make our lives better every day.
Space-related innovations are fairly straight
forward spinoffs.
After all, it is the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
But would you believe that today's method
of removing cataracts evolved from propulsion technology.
Cataracts are cloudy, or opaque area of the eye's lens,
causing blurry vision and can sometimes lead to blindness.
Earlier methods to remove cataracts involve some gruesome
techniques that required a large incision.
Many stitches to keep the lens in place.
And a 10-day hospital stay.
In the 1970s, a local eye surgeon determined there had
to be a better way.
He partnered with the Retina Foundation of Boston
and NASA Glenn to apply advanced technology
in the fields of fluid mechanics.
High-speed rotating machinery.
Miniature mechanisms.
Pumps, seals and bearings.
To develop the first tiny cutter pump.
A device that macerates the cataract
through a small incision in the cornea,
and pumps the liquefied material from the eye.
The cutter pump is driven by a tiny turbine,
and includes a pressure regulator
to maintain ocular pressure during the procedure.
Today's method, called phacoemulsification is based
on the same principals, but it uses ultrasound
to macerate the cataract.
When you're not feeling well, you may go see your doctor.
He'll take a good look at you.
Listen to your heart and lungs.
Peer into your eyes, ears, and nose.
And maybe even order some blood
and urine tests for good measure.
But what happens if you fall ill in space?
Typically, there are medical doctors available.
Either on the mission itself,
or through ground support to take a look.
However, they need a little bit more information in order
to assist the unwell astronaut.
NASA is actively developing remote monitoring technologies
to enable real-time health diagnostics
to keep our astronauts at optimum health.
For example, NASA Glenn developed a low-power, rugged,
and plannable biotelemetry system
that can be interrogated wirelessly
to monitor astronauts in flight.
NASA Glenn's licensee, Endotronics --
took this novel system, and is developing the technology
to remotely monitor patients with heart failure.
With this system, patients can spend more time
at home doing the things they enjoy.
Also, their doctors and caregivers can be alerted
of any problems, so the patient can receive care before
requiring an extensive hospital stay.
Blood and urine analysis are difficult
in a microgravity environment.
So having an easy, fast, and accurate health diagnostic
that can be conducted using a drop of blood in a simple,
handheld machine is highly desired.
DMI is developing a novel, handheld laboratory capable
of complete blood analysis in a reusable package.
The Our Health System is a universal, biomedical laboratory
for performing blood and urine analysis in orbit,
rather than relying on ground-based analysis.
The device was evaluated
in microgravity environments during parabolic flight.
Our Health performed flawlessly, and is anticipated
for evaluation on the International Space Station.
From real-time monitoring, a renal function for those
on dialysis, to quick, complete blood analysis
in emergency settings,
to monitoring high-performance athletes,
the device could potentially improve the life
for so many people with chronic illnesses.
And those who just need to know a little bit more
about their bodies.
NASA's innovations are everywhere,
and they impact us daily.
And the really awesome thing is
that these people continue to innovate.
We are limited only by our imaginations.
So just imagine how the innovations developed today will
benefit us tomorrow.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]