---
title: "FDA Approves NASA Ventilator for Use on COVID Patients"
description: "A ventilator developed by NASA engineers and designed to save COVID-19 patients was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use."
date: "2020-04-30"
modified: "2020-04-30"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/fda-approves-nasa-ventilator"
categories:
  - "NASA"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "coronavirus"
  - "covid19"
  - "NASA"
  - "the digest"
---

# FDA Approves NASA Ventilator for Use on COVID Patients

![A ventilator developed by NASA engineers and designed to save COVID-19 patients was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/fda-approves-nasa-ventilator.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NASA\</em\>*

## VITAL

A ventilator developed by NASA engineers and designed to save COVID-19 patients was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today under authority of the agency's [Emergency Use Authorization](<https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization>).

"This FDA authorization is a key milestone in a process that exemplifies the best of what government can do in a time of crisis," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in [a statement](<https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-developed-ventilator-authorized-by-fda-for-emergency-use>).

"Now that we have a design, we're working to pass the baton to the medical community, and ultimately patients, as quickly as possible," Fred Farina, chief innovation and corporate partnerships officer at Caltech, said in the statement.

## Fast Tracked

The machine, dubbed VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally), was developed by engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in just 37 days, and [revealed to the public](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-coronavirus-ventilator>) six days ago.

Its design is composed of far fewer parts than traditional ventilators and can be used in field hospitals as well.

"We specialize in spacecraft, not medical-device manufacturing," JPL Director Michael Watkins said in [a statement](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-develops-covid-19-prototype-ventilator-in-37-days/>) last week. "But excellent engineering, rigorous testing and rapid prototyping are some of our specialties."

"This example shows what we can do when everyone works together to fight COVID-19," FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in today's statement. "We believe today’s action will increase availability of these life-saving medical devices."

**READ MORE:** [NASA-Developed Ventilator Authorized by FDA for Emergency Use](<https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-developed-ventilator-authorized-by-fda-for-emergency-use>) \[NASA\]

**More on the ventilators:** *[NASA DEVELOPS VENTILATOR TO TREAT CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-coronavirus-ventilator>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)