If you're just back from a long flight to visit family for the holidays, you actually owe several debts of gratitude to the space program. Aside from the GPS system helping your pilots guide the plane, two other space-based inventions touched you in a very literal way. On your bottom as a matter of fact.

It might be hard to believe after sitting still for several hours, but the science of modern airline seats is revolutionary. Along with another invention mentioned below, one reason is Temper Foam, a NASA-developed cushioning material that is not only wonderfully shock absorbent, but also is softest where your body contacts it.

The resiliency of Temper Foam is astounding. The impact of an adult falling from a height of ten feet will be fully absorbed by a layer of Temper Foam only three inches thick. And its temperature sensitivity means it conforms to your body's contours while remaining firm at other points.

That's why it's used in the astronauts' seats on the shuttle. During launch they experience more violent shaking than most business travelers do in an entire year.

And Temper Foam isn't just used in well-traveled furniture. You'll find it in sports helmets, orthopedic supports, and home furnishings.