NASA has been conducting experiments since 2016 to understand how flames behave in microgravity. However, the most recent experiment did not go as planned, contrary to expectations.
When the results of NASA's Spacecraft Fire Safety Experiments, known as Saffire, were shared, it was determined that the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft, which re-entered the atmosphere on January 9, had caught fire.
The results of these experiments could play a significant role in the design of future spacecraft and spacesuits. Questions such as whether different materials will ignite in space or how they will react increase the importance of these experiments.
The Saffire experiments were conducted inside NASA's Cygnus cargo spacecraft and posed no threat to astronauts in Earth's orbit. The fire was created in a controlled manner within a small area.
Research Center project manager Gary Ruff states that the experiment's flow unit is a wind tunnel through which they pass air, and after the test conditions are set, the materials are ignited by passing an electric current through a thin wire. The flames are observed thanks to cameras located inside the unit.
The final experiment, Saffire-VI, was launched in August of last year. With this final test, an 8-year series of experiments has come to an end.
Exploration and scientific missions to be carried out over the next decade will allow astronauts to travel to the depths of space and to previously unexplored places. Despite the conclusion of the Saffire experiments, NASA has gained significant experience regarding the effects of fire, which will enable the design of the right tools and equipment for more ambitious missions in the future.
News Source: 12punto
