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NASA Will Intentionally Burn Unmanned Orbiting Craft In Space (phys.org)

Posted by BeauHD on from the to-go-where-no-man-has-gone-before dept.

An anonymous reader writes from an article on Phys.org: NASA said it will test the effects of a large fire in space by setting off a blaze inside an orbiting unmanned space craft. NASA has set off tiny controlled fires in space in the past, but never tested how large flames react inside a space capsule in space. The goal is to measure the size of the flames, how quickly they spread, the heat output, and how much gas is emitted. The results of this experiment, dubbed Saffire-1, will determine how much fire resistance is needed in the ultra-light material used in the spacecraft and the astronaut's gear. It will also help NASA build better fire detection and suppression systems for their spaceships, and study how microgravity and limited amounts of oxygen affect the size of the flames.

4 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Where have we heard this? by rmdingler · · Score: 4, Funny

    The goal is to measure the size of the flames, how quickly they spread, the heat output, and how much gas is emitted.

    Said every pyro ever.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

  2. Re:Btrn in soace by SJHillman · · Score: 3, Funny

    They invented a whole new concept called the "inside". This craft will be equipped with one such feature. It will contain oxygen.

  3. Pinto's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I suggest they put a few Pinto's in low-earth orbit and have them rear-end each other. Such research would answer flames-in-space as well as some critical questions dating back to the 70's.

  4. Re:Btrn in soace by MrKaos · · Score: 3, Funny

    Fire and balls are two words you don't want to be used in a sentence describing your pants.

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    My ism, it's full of beliefs.