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So... what have X-ray and gamma-ray
astronomy ever
done for ME? Very often, technologies developed for one purpose can be re-used
in other ways. NASA has an active program to encourage this for technologies
used in its research and exploration programs, to get the most out of each
taxpayer dollar. It does this by allowing businesses to use NASA inventions.
In order for X-rays and gamma-rays coming from astronomical objects to be
studied, very sensitive instruments must be developed. Astronomers always want
more
sensitivity,
to be able to study fainter and more distant objects. So they
are always designing and building better detector systems. These detectors,
while developed to study distant objects in the Universe, have found to be
useful as well here on Earth.
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