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From: dietz%usc-cse%USC-ECL@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: OMNI get-away special
Message-ID: <3057@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Jul-83 12:54:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.3057
Posted: Wed Jul 13 12:54:00 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Jul-83 18:17:44 EDT
Lines: 16

OMNI magazine recently had a contest in which contestants were asked to
submit plans for experiments to be orbited in a "get-away special",
payed for by the magazine.  The winner was an experiment to form foamed
metal beams in zero-g.

The experiment will involve heating metal hydrides to form a molten
metal/hydrogen gas mizture.  This mixture will then be extruded through
an I shaped opening.  The foamed metal should have a much higher
strength-to-mass ratio than solid metal.

Two hydrides will be used: titanium and calcium.  Calcium is ubiquitous
on Earth, but it (and all known alloys) quickly corrode in air.
Calcium (and calcium alloys) may be very useful in the vacuum of space,
though, because they are very light.