Follow this link to skip to the main contentNASA Home>Offices>IPP>HomeFeaturesText SizeGrow Text SizeShrink Text Size Did NASA invent the ever-popular memory foam found in many consumer applications? Memory foam, also known as temper foam, was developed under a NASA contract in the 1970s that set out to improve seat cushioning and crash protection for airline pilots and passengers. Memory foam has widespread commercial applications, in addition to the popular mattresses and pillows. › Back To TopThe Secret of NASA Mattress Foam You may have heard of a space mattress created by NASA from a revolutionary material called memory foam and are eager to buy one. Before you do, let me tell you that there is no NASA memory foam and no space bed technology and companies like Tempur-Pedic only use the NASA connection to sell more mattresses. Mattress companies mention this in their advertising to increase the credibility of their toppers and beds. After all, if this material is from NASA, then it must make an excellent mattress, right?
Also imagine how appealing is the thought of sleeping on a NASA mattress. Read what makes the best memory foams first and also which companies send out memory foam samples. NASA Foam Link Uncovered A form of visco-elastic foam was, indeed, first developed in the 70s in conjunction with the Space Program to help astronauts absorb enormous G-forces at liftoff and re-entry but that's not what manufacturers are talking about. NASA Memory Foam Mattress vs Tempur Mattress When people compare NASA mattresses to the well-known Tempur-Pedic brand, they assume sleeping surfaces made from this revolutionary technology existed in the first place. But this never happened. So why was it never used? The original NASA foam was never suitable for sleeping because it broke down in time and lacked the comfort needed to make a good mattress. But the Program never intended to use space foam for bedding. Remember, it was developed for astronauts' seats, not for sleeping. Once released to the industrial world, progress was imminent.
Years of research and development by the Swedish company Tempurpedic did turn this early recipe into an unique material now commonly known as memory foam. Some people still like to call it NASA foam. This earned them the Certified Space Technology status usually given to a "product that is the direct result of technology developed for space programs, or advances and improvements in such technology". Progress continues as other companies work to improve the Tempur-Pedic mattress recipe. Tempur-Pedic is also the only manufacturer today who acknowledges, somewhat vaguely, admittedly, the true NASA connection. An imperfect version of TEMPUR foam material was developed for NASA in the 1970s, designed specifically to conform to any individual's body and relieve the pressure of the tremendous forces of gravity the astronauts experienced during lift off and flight All companies, including the above-mentioned Tempur, should be more open in admitting that what we're sleeping on today is not a NASA product, but rather, a by-product.
Why Wait For 30 Years So why did it take 30 years for this material to be used in our beds and mattresses? While space foam was highly promising in its original form, it proved to be highly difficult to manufacture. As a result, Tempur foam was first perfected for hospital beds using a proprietary manufacturing process. But the material was too costly to be used anywhere other than in the medical field. It's only recently that the manufacturing process became advanced enough to create memory foam mattress toppers, beds and pads that are durable enough, comfortable enough, and more importantly affordable enough to end consumers. My Foam Mattress Has Memory! A Critical Eye On The Latest Mattress Technologies Known BrandsWhat is the secret behind Tempur mattress technology and why is it in the top 5 most popular brands alongside the likes of Sensus, Isotonic, Bergad and Sealy? The answer is that it uses good quality, high density, heat responsive foam. How Long Does It Last?
What affects the expected lifetime of memoryfoam mattresses and do Tempur mattresses last longer? The answer is years and years as long as it's made of better quality, higher-density foam. Authenticity TestHow can you check if your purchase as good as a true Tempurpedic bed? You can try the wine glass test, the egg test, or the fridge test. You are here: Home > Must-Know Facts > The Secret of NASA Memory Mattress Foam Related to Sleep Disorders Memory Foam: Pros and Cons Considering a memory foam mattress or similar product? Read what sleep experts say about it. Few things feel as good as a good night's sleep. That's especially true if sleep seems to escape you, night after night after night. If you've heard about memory foam, you may wonder if it could improve the quality of yoursleep. Some people swear by it. Others are less enthusiastic. What exactly is memory foam? And what are its pros and cons? Here's information to help you decide whether memory foam is worth a try.
What Is Memory Foam? First designed in the mid-1960s for NASA airplane seats, memory foam is made from a substance called viscoelastic. It is both highly energy absorbent and soft. Memory foam molds to the body in response to heat and pressure, evenly distributing body weight. It then returns to its original shape once you remove the pressure. In addition to protecting against impact, these properties make memory foam very comfortable. After its "virgin flight" for NASA, memory foam made a foray into other applications. For example, it was used as cushioning in helmets and shoes. Medicine found a use for it in prosthetics and products to prevent pressure ulcers such as seating pads for people who are severely disabled. Then, memory foam really took off. It's now well known for its use in pillows, mattress pads, and mattresses, which come in different densities and depths. What Are the Benefits of Memory Foam? Could the special properties of memory foam enhance your sleep?
Sleep specialist Donna L. Arand, PhD, says that objective studies supporting the claimed benefits of memory foam -- or the effects of any particular type of sleeping surface -- are lacking. This is true for a variety of reasons, she says. This type of sleep study can be expensive, if conducted independently. Or it is "chased" by a shadow of bias, if supported by industry. Also, some sleep technology, such as memory foam, is relatively new, so it hasn't been well studied. But perhaps one of the more difficult stumbling blocks to testing the health benefits of mattresses such as memory foam is the subjective nature of sleep. It is simply difficult to measure. Sometimes the brain's electrical activity, measured with an electroencephalogram (EEG), and other findings recorded during a sleep test don't always match up perfectly with a person's subjective experience, says Arand, who is the clinical director of the Kettering Sleep Disorders Center in Dayton, Ohio. "They might say, ‘I had a great night's sleep,' but the EEG parameters might not really indicate that."
Sleep is not only subjective, but preferences for sleep surfaces are individual, Arand says. "There's quite a bit of variability between individuals in terms of what type of surface -- whether it's firm, hard, or soft -- they prefer when they're sleeping," she says. "As far as we know, there is no rhyme or reason for that." Many of Arand's patients who use memory foam have offered unsolicited glowing reports like these about memory foam: "I'm sleeping great." "Best sleep I've ever had." "I love going to bed at night." Arand says these anecdotal responses may be one-sided. That's because she and other staff don't ask all their patients about their sleep surfaces. "We may only be hearing the good stuff," Arand says. Kathy R. Gromer, MD, sleep specialist with the Minnesota Sleep Institute in Minneapolis, agrees that memory foam may improve sleep. "It can, if it relieves painful pressure points," she says. But Gromer adds that memory foam doesn't do anything for sleep apnea or other sleep-breathing disorders -- and sleep disorders are the primary complaint of most her patients.
"When you lie on the memory foam, the heat from your body softens it in appropriate points," Arand says, "so this helps to support your body along the curves and natural lines of the body." Memory foam manufacturers claim this helps relieve pain and thereby promotes more restful sleep. And, though consumers often believe that very firm mattresses are best, more "giving" mattresses like these may lead to better sleep in people with back pain, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Although there aren't scientific data to support the hypothesis, Arand wonders whether memory foam sleep surfaces might be especially helpful for older people. For them, minimizing extra movement could reduce the number of times they awaken during the night. Being less aware of a bed partner's movements might be an extra benefit, she adds. "Without the coiled springs, you feel your sleep partner's movement less, and that might help, too." What Are the Disadvantages of Memory Foam? Gromer says that memory foam products may retain body heat, which could make them less comfortable in warm weather.