When most people think about NASA, they think about rockets, astronauts, and distant planets.

What they may not realize is that technology developed for space missions has found its way into everyday life in some unexpected places.

Research connected to NASA contributed to memory foam mattresses, scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses, cordless power tools, and the image sensors used in many digital cameras and smartphones.

Some of the surprises are even less obvious. Materials originally developed for spacecraft helped inspire the transparent ceramics used in some nearly invisible orthodontic braces. NASA's work on compact water treatment systems also contributed to purification technologies now used in disaster relief, remote communities, and portable water filters.

Even the reflective material used in emergency "space blankets" traces its roots to technology designed to protect spacecraft from extreme temperatures.

NASA did not necessarily invent all of these products from scratch. In many cases, engineers developed technologies to solve problems in space, and companies later adapted them for use on Earth.

One of the most unexpected examples may be the Super Soaker, invented by NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson after a water-powered experiment unexpectedly sprayed across his workshop. That accident eventually led to a toy that generated more than $1 billion in sales.