Last week, NASA ignited the largest ever fire experiment in microgravity.
Fire experiments have previously taken place on the International Space Station (ISS) and the space shuttle, but they were significantly smaller as astronauts were present.
The new experiment is called Saffire and took place in June 14 within Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft, part of NASA’s commercial resupply program that delivers cargo to the ISS. Orbital ATK is a founding member of the Coalition. Following its departure from the ISS, the Saffire experiment was initiated on Cygnus.
David Urban, principal investigator for Saffire, says that the experiment seeks to answer two fundamental questions about fire in space: “Will an upward spreading flame continue to grow or will microgravity limit the size?” and “What fabrics and materials will catch fire and how will they burn?”
Saffire strapped into the Cygnus spacecraft. Credit: NASA
Studying fire in space is essential for astronaut safety. NASA’s Glenn Research Center designed, built, managed and remotely operated this experiment.
In addition to assessing flame growth through cloth made of fiberglass and cotton, Saffire will also determine flammability limits for some spacecraft materials. A necessary safety component for future human space missions, the experiment is part of NASA’s preparation for sending humans to Mars.