NASA is proposing to use a mechanism invented by Mechanical Engineering Professor Stephen Canfield in America's first new human spacecraft in 30 years. Named the "Canfield joint," the gimbal mount could be included in the design of the crew exploration vehicle, or CEV, a transporter that would replace existing space shuttles when the current fleet is retired about 2010. The Canfield joint provides three degrees of freedom, allowing users to control and keep a thruster in a constant position on a rotating spacecraft. FULL STORY