The Space Technology Hall of Fame international program honors innovations by organizations and inpiduals who transform space technology into commercial products that improve life on Earth.
The Space Technology Hall of Fame recognizes the life-changing technologies emerging from global space programs; honors the scientists, engineers and innovators responsible; and communicates to the public the importance of these technologies as a return on investment in space exploration.
The deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, Aug. 15, 2016. Anyone may submit a nomination of a technology that was developed anywhere in the world for use in space and then modified or adopted for use on Earth.
Induction into the Space Technology Hall of Fame for 2017 will take place on April 6 at the Space Foundation's 33rd Space Symposium, to be held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The 2016 inductees are:
Medtronic LaRC-SI, revolutionary insulation for the treatment of heart irregularities
Radar Technologies International WATEX, using satellite technology to locate water
Other inductees have included energy-saving technologies, health improvement technologies, satellite and telecommunication technologies and practical commercial devices. Some examples are the automatic external defibrillator; non-invasive breast biopsy technology; anti-shock garments; LASIK eye surgery; implantable pacemakers and hearing aids; and technologies that power cellular phones, terrestrial networks and satellite broadcast television and radio communications, a low-density, light-weight flexible aerogel insulating material; and a high-resolution optical sensing system that detects forest fires before they can cause serious environmental damage.
Each nomination is reviewed for completeness, assessed by technical experts and then ranked by a prestigious panel of judges who look at economic benefit, public awareness, societal benefit, longevity and public/private/partnership investment.
Additional information about the Space Technology Hall of Fame®, including a complete list of inducted technologies, is available at www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org.