A media briefing held on Friday highlighted NASA’s efforts in fortifying the nation’s response towards winning the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a report, NASA masterminded a call for ideas in its internal platform called NASA@WORK and gathered submissions on how the agency can leverage its expertise to help combat the current crisis caused by the coronavirus.
The total response of its members quantifies to 250 ideas and more than 500 comments submitted in just two weeks. The agency manifests its ability to act in harmony as it executed an online voting system that generated more than 4,500 votes, and is said to have refined the agency’s best ideas.
The AV Positive Pressure Helmet by NASA AFRC
In partnership with California’s groups and the local community, the space agency‘s Armstrong Flight Research Center was able to build an oxygen helmet specifically designed for coronavirus patients who manifested minor symptoms of the illness.
Officially named as the Aerospace Valley Positive Pressure Helmet, it is used to force oxygen into a patient’s impaired lungs, thereby addressing one of the illness’ deadliest symptoms.
they are now. "NASA engineer Mike Buttigieg works on the Aerospace Valley Positive Pressure Helmet, a device that was successfully tested by doctors at Antelope Valley Hospital in California" pic.twitter.com/VIUTQElA6v
— Falcon9 (@Falcon9_rocket) April 24, 2020
The AMBUStat by NASA GRC
It can be recalled that in 2015, engineers based at the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio developed a small, portable, and low-cost device that decontaminates spaces under an hour. Dubbed as the AMBUStat, the said device transitions from its previous use in police cars and ambulances to killing coronaviruses present in larger spaces.
The VITAL Ventilator by NASA JPL
Also, in California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory built a nifty high-pressure ventilator called Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally, or the “VITAL.” It will be used to treat coronavirus patients with milder symptoms in order to conserve the country’s hospital-grade ventilators for those with more severe coronavirus symptoms.
The team has considered the barriers that may impede its manufacture and so it has used parts that are currently available to potential manufacturers. Compared to the traditional ventilator, the VITAL Ventilator is composed of far fewer parts, making it easier to build and put together.
A culture of serviceable innovativeness
After NASA masterminded the said call, the infamous space agency has proved that its members not only have the best minds but, more importantly, have the most solicitous of hearts – not only seeking fame through grand innovations but also through practical and economical ones.
Featured image courtesy of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/YouTube Screenshot.