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Spinoff story
Light Research Aids Slumber
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
When astronauts only spent a few hours or days in orbit, sleep was not the biggest concern. As stays stretched longer, however, Johnson Space Center and partner nonprofit National Space Biomedical Research Institute began studying rest and alertness in microgravity. The work showed different light wavelengths help govern sleep and wake cycles. Using these results, Headwaters Research and Development Inc., with U.S. headquarters in Marblehead, Massachusetts, has developed the Illumy sleep mask with light cues to help wearers fall asleep faster and improve alertness on waking.