Astronauts Take Measure of Metals

Space shuttle Columbia’s astronauts ran tests on metals Sunday that eventually could lead to better sporting goods on Earth.

On the sixth day of their 16-day science mission, astronaut Gregory Linteris activated a test of zirconium-based alloys that may help researchers find better ways to process metallic glasses.

“We are taking fundamental measurements of these alloys, in some cases for the first time,” said project scientist Jan Rogers of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

“These measurements will be used to make better products on Earth,” Rogers said. “For instance, findings from metallic glass investigations may be used to improve sporting good products, such as golf clubs, because of their good elastic properties.”

The experiment is one of 33 the crew is undertaking.