Washington:
NASA in its latest patent dumping spree allowed scientists around the world to get a look at its incredible research. The US space agency released 56 of its patented technologies into the public domain, which means they are now freely available for unrestricted commercial use.
To figure out which expired patents should be released and which ones not involves a lengthy review. These technologies were earlier developed to advance NASA missions but may have non-aerospace applications and be used by commercial space ventures and other companies free of charge. (Also read. Researchers unearth new revelations about Earth's early atmosphere; study published in journal Nature Geoscience)
“By releasing this collection into the public domain, we are encouraging entrepreneurs to explore new ways to commercialise NASA technologies,” said Daniel Lockney, NASA's Technology Transfer programme executive.
The released patents cover a wide array of NASA tech, including manufacturing processes, rocket designs and bio gaming. This can be viewed as a big opportunity for private space exploration companies. In addition to this, a searchable database is also available that catalogues thousands of expired NASA patents already in the public domain, the US space agency added. (Also read. Researchers create new light-emitting cement that has a life of 100 years)
