The goal of this year's project is to build and test an  adaptation of the Liquid Wall Radiation Shield used in terrestrial applications of fusion technology. The present shielding techniques primarily use gravity to create a waterfall effect that draws the shielding liquid down the sides, or around the component that needs shielding. Obviously, this technique will not work in microgravity situations and may not work as well in other terrestrial gravitational situations in which the force on the shielding liquid is not enough to provide adequate flow over the radiation-sensitive surface.
    This year’s proposed experiment will utilize different techniques for controlling the flow of the Liquid in the Liquid Wall Radiation Shield method. In continuing the trend from past years, we will use as few moving parts as possible for greater reliability and lifetime and because of this the pump needed to force the liquid through our test loop will be an Electro-Magnetic pump. This pump will use Lorenz forces to build up low pressures and force our shielding liquid around the test loop.
    We will also be using another JxB force to hold the shielding fluid to the surface of our “radiation-sensitive” material. We will not be testing the radiation absorption characteristics of this technique, only the feasibility of using this technique to hold this liquid to a surface.
    Our test for success will be to prove that the shield we produce holds its shape in the microgravity situation while electric current is passing through it. If the current is shut off while the plane is experiencing microgravity fluctuations, the shield should break apart, rendering it useless for its radiation purpose and proving the JxB force can be used to solve the problem.