But that's an awfully small diameter. But in the end, the strength that counts is the strength of the thing you make out of it. But there are miles to go to fulfill that potential. In other words, we can make something that's no worse than if we didn't put the tubes in at all. One of the biggest boosters of future materials applications is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , which hopes to find a place for nanotubes in everything from spacecraft to space suits.
Every pound counts.
So does every dollar. Right now nanotubes run about 10 times the price of gold. With its relatively deep pockets, NASA may play a crucial role in all nanotube research. We can't do all the work ourselves, and we see such breakthrough possibilities with the technology. Basic studies that uncover the secrets to growing specific types of tubes could also accelerate research and lower the cost.