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Thursday, July 3, 2025

Home NASTRAN, software developed to help NASA engineers perform structural analysis in the 1960s and released to the public in the 1970s, soon became a ubiquitous software tool in industry. Still popular today, it’s been used to help design everything from airplanes and cars to nuclear reactors and even roller coasters. Some of NASTRAN’s most recent, cutting-edge innovations are featured in an article in Spinoff 2018. (iStock/Anton Balazh) NASTRAN, software developed to help NASA engineers perform structural analysis in the 1960s and released to the public in the 1970s, soon became a ubiquitous software tool in industry. Still popular today, it’s been used to help design everything from airplanes and cars to nuclear reactors and even roller coasters. Some of NASTRAN’s most recent, cutting-edge innovations are featured in an article in Spinoff 2018. (iStock/Anton Balazh)

NASTRAN, software developed to help NASA engineers perform structural analysis in the 1960s and released to the public in the 1970s, soon became a ubiquitous software tool in industry. Still popular today, it’s been used to help design everything from airplanes and cars to nuclear reactors and even roller coasters. Some of NASTRAN’s most recent, cutting-edge innovations are featured in an article in Spinoff 2018. (iStock/Anton Balazh)

NASTRAN, software developed to help NASA engineers perform structural analysis in the 1960s and released to the public in the 1970s, soon became a ubiquitous software tool in industry. Still popular today, it’s been used to help design everything from airplanes and cars to nuclear reactors and even roller coasters. Some of NASTRAN’s most recent, cutting-edge innovations are featured in an article in Spinoff 2018. (iStock/Anton Balazh)

NASTRAN, software developed to help NASA engineers perform structural analysis in the 1960s and released to the public in the 1970s, soon became a ubiquitous software tool in industry. Still popular today, it’s been used to help design everything from airplanes and cars to nuclear reactors and even roller coasters. Some of NASTRAN’s most recent, cutting-edge innovations are featured in an article in Spinoff 2018. (iStock/Anton Balazh)

An air-scrubber technology developed for space is also used widely on Earth. After the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball organization installed NASA-derived air purifiers in its locker room and gym, a study found that bacteria and fungus were virtually eliminated and air particle counts were dramatically reduced throughout the facilities. (U.S. Air Force)