Exploring Space - Advancing Life on Earth while Expanding Human Intellect

Al Reisz
CEO, Reisz Engineers

Abstract

While many scientific discoveries are made through space exploration, perhaps more significant are the engineering innovations made to the achieve space missions. Accomplishing engineering goals to achieving space missions causes humans to engineer in new dimensions and for new environments. Space exploration causes us to be constantly aware of the law of the conservation of energy. Technology developed for operations in space are then applied to better life here on Earth. At the time the Apollo program began, tube electronics were standard and had been used since the 19th century. To achieve the Apollo mission, integrated circuits were used, having been developed a few years earlier. Shortly after, hand calculators were on the market, followed by personal computers, the internet and an evolving new and more efficient way of life. Lasers were used to measure distances more accurately in space. Since their use in space, lasers are now used for scanning consumer product prices (saving everyone personal time), medical surgery, instant transaction of money and to accurately level land for higher crop yields. To prepare astronaut meals in space, microwave ovens were developed and since have provided a new method for clean and quick meals on Earth.

This presentation will present significant space scientific discoveries and how these have expanded our human knowledge. This presentation will also feature technology advances made on Earth because of space exploration. These technical advances have improved our health, environment and well being. Today we face many problems on Earth and demands for our limited resources including problems pertaining to energy, environmental pollution, food supplies and health needs. In all of this we still must explore space. For many of the solutions to our problems on Earth will be found through space exploration.

Presented at ISDC 2011 - Huntsville. Paper and presentation charts are not available.