The Great Technology Transfer

In this day of failing interest and budget levels for the space program a change in direction is needed. What is needed is an approach to the space program that can be beneficial to a wider scope of society. One way society benefits from the space program is the use of technological advances originally used for the space program that are found to have important uses on Earth. The dual-use of space technology is commonly known as technology transfer. NASA realized this and is reshaping the tech-transfer program to involve the commercial market at every step. NASA will now do business more like the private sector, making NASA profit oriented. The tech-transfer program now goes two ways; besides the commercial market using NASA technology, NASA will use technology developed from commercial applications. Also, NASA and the private sector are working together in the development of new technologies. Defense programs are also involved in this process. New technology will have wide spread effects on both the commercial market and the space program. The new technologies will create many new products and jobs, thus improving the economy. Examples of such technologies include autonomous robots, microtechnology, and satellite control systems that have applications in electromagnetic engines. The technology currently being developed and will revolutionize both the space program and the commercial market.