International Space Station astronauts play with fire for research

International Space Station astronauts play with fire for research
Tests to study behaviour of flames in zero gravity suggest fires could be more dangerous on moon than Earth

Hannah Devlin Science correspondent

@hannahdev
Wed 1 Jan 2020 03.00 EST

Playing with fire can be dangerous and never more so than when confined in a space capsule floating 250 miles above the Earth. But in the past week astronauts onboard the International Space Station have intentionally lit a series of blazes in research designed to study the behaviour of flames in zero gravity.

The scientists behind the experiment, called Confined Combustion, say it will help improve fire safety on the ISS and on future lunar missions by helping predict how a blaze might progress in low gravity conditions.

Dr Paul Ferkul, of the Universities Space Research Association, who is working on the project, said: “That is the immediate and most practical goal since Nasa can use the knowledge to improve material selection and fire safety strategies.”

On Earth, gravity pulls colder denser air down to the base of the flame, displacing hot air, which rises. This process feeds fresh oxygen to the fire and the upward flow of hot air gives the flame its characteristic teardrop shape.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/01/international-space-station-astronauts-play-with-fire-for-research