Special Feature W ith the 21 st century close at hand, maintaining the competitiveness of American industry is paramount.
Technology is a major ingredient in retaining a national leadership role within the world community.
But along with NASA-developed expertise, there are additional programs that are immensely valuable, and integral to the production of the treasure trove of space technologies and secondary applications. NASA has established numerous technology outreach programs, offering technical assistance to support small start-up companies to large enterprises, as well as city and state organizations. NASA's skills are being transferred from the space agency's own research laboratories to the public domain to help solve challenging concerns, such as strategies to reduce ozone levels in the home, joining efforts to clean water in polluted bays, or to help save babies following corrective fetal surgery. Promoting excellence in education is another area in which NASA is active. Through an array of initiatives, NASA is devoted to supporting teachers and enthralling the students of today.