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Spinoff story
Spinoff for Survival (Rafts)
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Givens Buoy Raft, the basic model of which has a capacity of four to six persons, was designed to respond to hazardous waters. Design eliminates conventional limited ballast water bags. In their stead is one large hemisphere-shaped underwater ballast chamber which provides exceptional stability. Chamber has flapper valve" that admits 4800 pound of water ballast. Ballast chamber moves with wave action and thus raft cannot overturn even if all occupants shift to one side. Ballast also keeps raft from blowing away in high winds. Additional feature is raft's ability to right itself if accidentally inflated upside down."