It is not an exaggeration to say that a twist of fate had caused space and innovation to exist together for the good of mankind generally and daily utilities specifically .

Necessity is the mother of all inventions . Nothing can be further than the truth than the voracious need to invent things to function and exist in the forbidding thin air of space . Two aspects we can give attention to - the remarkable collaboration between the space agencies and private concerns and the use of innovations for daily use meant for space .

However , space innovations and inventions are identified to be used in other fields . Could there have been cases when these innovations were ignored or did not get the necessary attention and possible missed opportunities ?

Imagine a group of archaeologists who in 2021 unearthed treasures including ancient manuscripts with cryptic messages detailing thousands of futuristic innovations . Scientists would be able to unravel and decipher the notes and identify some of the inventions like locomotives , bullet trains , jet propulsion , jet fuel , etc . There are also a myriad of inventions the scientists are unable to say for what purpose .

But if a group of archaeologists in the year 2221 found the same manuscripts , scientists will be able to identify many of the inventions not done by 2021 scientists and the former will be familiar with say , inventions done in 2105 .

Similarly , there are methodologies that space innovations and inventions that can be identified to be suitable for other nonspace use which will be explained later .

Why are space innovations more efficacious ? 1 ) Philosophy Everyone involved in the space program are indoctrinated with the thinking they are forging in an undertaking in unchartered frontier . This itself would create a mindset that only the best will do to function in an unfamiliar world .

2 ) Intense Competition When space exploration was done by the USA and Russia , the competition although only between two countries , was intense and sense of patriotism played its uncompromising role . It was during this period many space innovations occurred . Today , more countries are entering the race including Africa and UAE .

3 ) Capacity A plethora of resources were put into space innovation and it is about what best money can buy by public and private enterprises . They were top notch expertise , laboratories , equipment that no one can afford to settle for less .

Talking ESG

BY ZULKIFLI AHMAD

4 ) “ Guided ” Thinking Out Of The Box Brainstorming sessions would have ventured into ‘ out of this world situations ’ so to speak . Totally unrelated ‘ ideas ’ started to be put on the table which then materialised into new innovative products for space but improvised for daily use .

5 ) Intensity - as astronauts ’ lives are at stake in a place with no possible way of being rescued , experimentations are carried out more intensely to ensure resilience and effective functioning .

Space Innovations being used in other fields

Freeze-dried foods During long space missions freeze-dried foods are crucial for astronaut ’ s nutrition . These foods are very light , and they retain their nutritional value . Once prepared for eating , they are also easier and more palatable to eat than the former original sources that were packed into squeeze tubes . Camera phones About three decades ago NASA had invented a light , miniature imaging system that required minimum energy to take high quality pictures from space . This technology has become a standard feature in cell phones today . Firefighting equipment The polymers for use in space suits have led to creating flame-retardant , heat-resistant suits for firefighters . Newer suits feature circulating coolant to keep firefighters from the overwhelming heat and advanced breathing systems as used in astronaut life support systems . Shock absorbers for buildings Shock absorbers used today to protect bridges and buildings in areas prone to earthquakes were originally designed to protect equipment during space shuttle launches . Solar cells NASA has invented , and consistently improved , photovoltaic cells , sharing the findings with other companies to enhance the technology . Water filtration It was in the 1970s that NASA developed filtration systems used in iodine and cartridge filters to ensure astronauts can have safe , tasteless water . This filtering technology is now standard feature worldwide . Baby formula NASA scientists were searching for

a recycling agent to use during long space missions and found a nutritious , algae-based vegetable oil which is now an additive in many infant formulas . It consists of two essential fatty acids that cannot be synthesised by the human body .

Whether to save lives , facilitate or as cosmetic purposes space innovations and inventions have aided healthcare . Insulin pump Astronauts ’ vital signs in space need to be monitored and these monitoring systems have been adapted to regulate blood sugar levels and release insulin as needed . LASIK During LASIK surgery , a device tracks a patient ’ s eye positions for the surgeon . This technology was originally used to track astronauts ’ eyes during periods in space in order to assess how weightlessness affects humans ’ frames of reference . CAT scans The technology that makes CAT scans and MRIs was from NASA ’ s digital signal technology , originally used to recreate images of the moon during the Apollo missions . Artificial limbs Artificial human limbs that we see now which are more durable , functional , comfortable and life-like , are innovations originally designed for space vehicles , including robotic sensors , artificial muscle systems , temper foam , diamond-joint coatings . Invisible braces A material used to invent invisible braces was originally created to protect radar equipment without blocking its signal .

Aspirations of ESG Vision

It is ESG Vision ’ s hope that there will continue to be more space innovations and inventions ‘ collateral ’ benefits for the other industries including in healthcare and sustainability and daily use . There needs to be collateral or parallel research for innovation from space to be effectively identified and utilised in other fields .

To miss these breakthroughs will be missed opportunities that can make difference between lucrative outcomes and lost opportunities and between saving lives and lives lost . — The Health

Zulkifli Ahmad is the founder of ESG Vision , a think tank advocating ideas and actions on sustainability .