#nasa research

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#ThanksNASA: Insulin Pumps

In a time with so much impressive technology integral to daily life, it can be easy to take for granted things that once had to be invented. Whether it’s life-changing medical devices or simply personal comfort improvements, NASA research has been being used to improve life on and off the Earth for decades.

That’s why we wanted to highlight some of the incredible things that NASA research has helped create over the years. To share why it matters, and how the work of this organization extends far beyond just space travel and science. Join us to learn some of the reasons why you should say #ThanksNASA!

The invention and implementation of portable insulin pumps revolutionized life for many people dealing with diabetes. Where they previously had to structure their days around when and where they could safely do their injections, having a device that attaches to the body and distributes insulin over the course of the day gave people a level of freedom that was unprecedented before. This is due in part to a small piece of technology invented for the NASA Viking Mars Mission.

The Viking Landers had a plethora of different scientific instruments on them, some of which were designed to search for signs of life on Mars. One such instrument, described in a 1988 article titled “Insulin Delivery System” from NASA Spinoff’s Health and Medicine page, was “a tiny, microminiaturized fluid control system” (66). This technology was implemented for biomedical purposes by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, who collaborated with NASA to create a device they called a “Programmable Implantable Medication System (PIMS).” Within this device, the fluid control system that was a part of the Viking Lander was adapted to be utilized for the distribution of insulin inside the human body. While the PIMS differed from modern insulin pumps in many ways—it was a surgical implant that was designed to go into the patient’s abdomen and then be refilled by hypodermic injection four times a year—it was an integral stepping stone in the development of this life-changing technology.

Much of the work done on the 1976 Viking Mars Mission was done right here in Hampton at the NASA Langley Research Center. This means that not only did Langley Research Center help facilitate a mission that dramatically changed the way that we explore other planets, but they also helped to create a piece of technology that dramatically changed the lives of so many Americans in the late 1980s!

Volume 8, Number 1 of the Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest also notes NASA’s financial contribution to the project. The organization provided total $3 million (approximately $8.8 million in today’s money) for the development of the technology, with this funding coming from its Technological Utilization Program. This article was published in 1987, and attributes the communications technology implemented for the project as traceable to NASA research as well.

The implanted aspect of the device—which was about the size of a hockey puck and called an “Implantable Programmable Infusion Pump (IPIP)”—contained “a computer; a hydraulic system consisting of a pump, valves, and a reservoir that holds a three-month supply of concentrated insulin; an antenna to receive and process program signals; and a command and telemetry system” (McCloskey 156). This command and telemetry system is important because it’s the way in which the patient or doctor can adjust the dosage of insulin being distributed in real time. This technology is said to have “stemmed directly from those originally worked out for the remote command and control of satellites” (McCloskey 157).

While the actual system design and creation of the PIMS was done at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, there is no denying NASA’s impact. Treatment for diabetes has come a long way since the 1980s, and many different organizations have worked hard over the years to improve the lives of those living with the condition. The development of the PIMS stands out in history as proof that more great things can be accomplished with great minds working together! Come visit us in-person to explore some more of the incredible technology that NASA has helped to create both in the past and looking towards the future.

Interested in reading deeper about this topic? Here are some relevant articles/sources:

“Insulin Delivery System” from NASA Spinoff Health and Medicine

“Insulin Treatment Enters The Space Age” by William McCloskey

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains a full-color photo of the first surgical implementation of the PIMS device. It is in the bottom right-hand corner of page 160, or page five of the PDF scan.

“Biomedical Applications of NASA Technology” Report by Donald S. Friedman

Written by Meghan Dincler, Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

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Moonquakes: Causes, Effects & What We Learn

## Understanding Moonquakes: A Deeper Dive Moonquakes are a surprisingly complex phenomenon affecting the lunar surface. While often overshadowed by earthquakes on Earth, they represent a significant challenge for future long-term lunar missions and operations. The study of these tremors offers valuable insights into the moon’s formation, evolution, and internal structure. The frequency of…

Moonquakes: Causes, Effects & What We Learn

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Ceres Fertilizer: Boost Your Crop Yields Now

The dwarf planet is cold now, but new research paints a picture of Ceres hosting a deep, long-lived energy source that may have maintained habitable conditions in the past. This groundbreaking work by NASA offers renewed insights into the potential for life beyond Earth and highlights the importance of exploring icy bodies within our solar system. Ceres, the largest object in the main asteroid…

Ceres Fertilizer: Boost Your Crop Yields Now

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Air Taxis: The Future of Urban Travel

The concept of ‘air taxis’ represents a potentially revolutionary shift in urban transportation, offering solutions to congestion and dramatically reducing commute times. NASA’s research into these vehicles, specifically through the RAVEN project, is a critical step towards realizing this vision – exploring how these ‘air taxis’ will function and operate within city environments. The core of…

Air Taxis: The Future of Urban Travel

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Nasa Will Send Spacecraft To Study Of Inner Surface Of Mars Ad | मंगल ग्रह पर नासा भेजेगा यान, भीतरी सतह का करेगा अध्ययन

Nasa Will Send Spacecraft To Study Of Inner Surface Of Mars Ad | मंगल ग्रह पर नासा भेजेगा यान, भीतरी सतह का करेगा अध्ययन

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अमेरिकी अंतरिक्ष एजेंसी नासा मंगल ग्रह की भीतरी सतह का अध्ययन करने के लिए वहां अपना पहला अभियान भेजने के लिए तैयार है.

चांद पर भेजे गए अपोलो मिशन के बाद इनसाइट भी नासा का पहला मिशन होगा. इसे पांच मई को मंग्रल ग्रह पर भेजने का कार्यक्रम है. यह किसी दूसरे ग्रह की जमीन पर भूकंप को…

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वैज्ञानिकों को शुक्रग्रह पर मिले जीवन होने के संकेत, जानें क्या हैं इसके मायने?

वैज्ञानिकों को शुक्रग्रह पर मिले जीवन होने के संकेत, जानें क्या हैं इसके मायने?

वैज्ञानिकों ने दावा किया है कि शुक्र ग्रह (Venus ) के वायुमंडल में एसिडिक बादलों में फॉस्फीन नाम की गैस मिली है।

  Venus

नई दिल्ली। वैज्ञानिकों ने Venus ग्रह यानी शुक्र पर जीवन के संकेत खोजे हैं। वैज्ञानिकों को यहां के वायुमंडल में फॉस्फीन गैस मिली है, जो बायोलॉजिकल प्रोसेस से पैदा होती है। नासा प्रमुख के मुताबिक ये पृथ्वी के अलाव जीवन की तलाश में अब तक की सबसे महत्वपूर्ण खोज है।

वैसे…

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Sleep & earn Rs.12 lakh

NASA is offering Rs 12 lakh to volunteers to join the research. In lieu of this, they will have to spend time lying on a special bed for two months