The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has decided to make its technologies available freely for anyone to use, for the benefit of the economy.
According to Pulse Headlines, NASA has selected and released into the public domain 56 formerly patented technologies making up to 1,200 patents. Besides these technologies, NASA also made available in a searchable database thousands of expired patents already being in the public domain.
All these patented technologies can now be freely used by private space companies as well as entrepreneurs who plan to adapt them for applications in non-aerospace fields.
NASA's searchable database allows using the available technologies without a license agreement. This means that those companies and entrepreneurs intending to independently pursue product development are not required to contact the space agency.
The inventions contained in the database range from propulsion methods to advanced manufacturing processes, performance concepts and reinforced rocket safety. Among the areas of patents provided for free by NASA included communications, electronics, environment, optics, sensors, aeronautics, manufacturing, materials and coatings, medicine and biotechnology, health, mechanical and fluid systems, instrumentation, IT and software.
NASA's Technology Transfer program is leading the project. Executive Daniel Lockney explained in a statement that the main goal of this project is to encourage entrepreneurs to find new methods to use NASA technologies.
While anyone can theoretically research through NASA's public domain database, among the most likely beneficiaries of NASA's Technology Transfer program are private companies such as Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Eloh Musk's Space X. The American public space agency aims to help foster a new era of entrepreneurship by making these technologies available in the public domain.
According to NH Voice, NASA was also involved in similar initiatives in the past. The agency provided previously thousands of licensed patents to small businesses and gave them the right to use its technologies for free.
