The Apollo program led to the creation of the lightweight mini-computer, GPS, the kidney dialysis machine, the smoke detector, the rechargeable pacemaker, the CPAP breathing machine, advanced prosthetics, a lead paint detector, improved vehicle brakes, freeze-dried food, and camera-on-a-chip technology used in smartphones today. (Spinoff.nasa.gov)
It really wasn’t that long ago when the two greatest superpowers were vying to put satellites into space. Now, 50 nations have their own satellites in low Earth orbit. If you’re a Thailand, say, you can call Space Systems/Loral, a Canadian-owned company based in Palo Alto, California, and tell them you want to put a satellite into geostationary orbit for television broadcasting or military communications. You can have the thing in orbit 25,000 miles above Earth within two years.
