EarthTechnology Spinoffs

FINDER keepers: Technology developed for outer space is saving lives on Earth

The Department of Homeland Security and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed a new radar-based technology dubbed “Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response” (FINDER), to aid in detecting victims buried in rubble. FINDER is based on the technology NASA’s Deep Space Network uses to monitor the movements and location of its spacecraft millions of miles away.

“FINDER is bringing NASA technology that explores other planets to the effort to save lives on ours,” said Mason Peck, chief technologist for NASA and principal advisor on technology policy and programs. “This is a prime example of intergovernmental collaboration and expertise that has a direct benefit to the American taxpayer.”

The state-of-the-art device uses low-power microwave radar waves to detect the heartbeat or breathing of victims, even through 30 feet of concrete and steel. FINDER can locate people in the wreckage even if they are unconscious. Best of all, the unit is small and lightweight, making it optimal for any sort of disaster scenario.

“It’s a small but very powerful piece of technology,” said Peck.

“This is a great project to work on,” said James Lux, task manager for FINDER at JPL. “A lot of things we do at NASA are very complex and hard to explain, but this project is simple and has great results. To be contributing to something that is going to save lives is really neat. That’s what I’m in business for.”

The sponsoring agency for the demonstration was the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. For more information, visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr and www.firstresponder.gov.

This article appeared in the 3rd issue of RocketSTEM magazine.

Download PDF    Issuu Reader    Buy Print Edition

Author

  • Nicole Solomon

    Nicole Solomon is an entertainment industry veteran with over 25 years experience as an Executive Producer, Supervising Producer, Show Runner, Director, Writer, Camera Operator, Photographer and published Photojournalist.

    She’s had a pair of number one shows on different networks at the same time. She has produced dozens of series, including hits like “American Loggers,” “Good Bones,” “Sons of Guns,” “America’s Most Wanted,” “Trauma Life In the ER,” “Last Comic Standing,” “Dr. Phil” and “Alaskan Bush People.” In 2015 she produced an Emmy-nominated special about returning military personnel from Afghanistan. In 2021, she was nominated and won the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Documentary called, “Kid90” on Hulu where she was credited as a Producer, Cinematographer and Photographer.

    Networks where her programing has appeared include; NBC, ABC, BBC, Discovery, HGTV, History Channel, TLC, G4, Esquire, NASATV, CW, Travel Channel, MTV, VH1, Showtime, HULU, A&E, FOX, TruTV, CourtTV, SpikeTV, Animal Planet, BRAVO, ESPN, CCTV, CNN and E!

    Additionally, she worked with NASA covering the last two space shuttle launches and the Commercial Crew Program. She spent several years working at Kennedy Space Center with Public Affairs and NASA’s Social Media Team covering over a dozen live televised events called “NASA Socials."

    She has covered many aerospace events, doing interviews, taking photographs and writing articles. Some of the aerospace companies she has worked with include, NASA, JPL, ESA, CSA, JAXA, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Blue Origins, Sierra Space, Virgin Galactic, XPRIZE, Polaris, Archer Aviation, and Bigelow.

    She is a member of Producers Guilds of America, Women In Aerospace and an original board member of RocketSTEM Media Foundation.
Previous Landing of Expedition 36
Next Deep Impact comet hunter mission comes to an end

Related Posts