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Spinoff story
Air Safety Spinoffs
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Structural Composites Industries, Inc. found that weight saving, even a matter of a few pounds is an important consideration in airplane design and construction. Boeing saved 200 pounds simply by substituting a new type of compressed gas cylinder on their 747 airliners. Weight savings resulted from changeover to new type pressure vessel. Adapted from NASA's rocket motor casing technology, cylinders are constructed by winding fibers around aluminum liner. Technique offers high strength for very low weight -- in this case 60 percent less than the pressure vessels used earlier on the 747.