Spinoff story
Gas Analyzer (1983)
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
A miniature gas chromatograph - a system which separates a gaseous mixture into its components and measures the concentration of the individual gases - was designed for the Viking Lander. The technology was further developed under National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and funded by Ames Research Center/Stanford as a toxic gas leak detection device. Three researchers on the project later formed Microsensor Technology, Inc. to commercialize the product. It is a battery-powered system consisting of a sensing wand connected to a computerized analyzer. Marketed as the Michromonitor 500, it has a wide range of applications.