Nasa to conduct fiery experiments in space to better protect astronauts

Scientists to test if microgravity will curb flames.

An Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft, left, departs the International Space Station. Nasa is using it for its fire experiment. Reuters

CAPE CANAVERAL // An unmanned cargo ship pulled away from the International Space Station last week to stage the first of three planned Nasa experiments on how big fires grow in space, an important test for astronaut safety.

Previous experiments in space were limited to the incineration of samples no bigger than an index card, said David Urban, lead researcher for the Spacecraft Fire Experiment, or Saffire.

“We tried for years to find a vehicle and a circumstance where this would work and initially we would get a ‘not on my spacecraft’ reaction,” he said.

Nasa ultimately settled on using an Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo ship, which is designed to burn up in the atmosphere after leaving the space station.

The Cygnus spacecraft, which left last Tuesday, was launched from Earth in March with more than 3,200 kilograms of food, supplies and science experiments for the station, a research laboratory that flies about 400 kilometres above the planet.

The cargo included Saffire, a module containing a sample of cotton and fibreglass measuring 97 centimetres by 49cm that will be set on fire after Cygnus reaches a safe distance from the station.

The experiment will begin with hot wires igniting the sample. Air flowing through ducts will fan the fire, which is expected to last about 20 minutes.

“One of the big questions is how big will the flame get?” Dr Urban asked.

Fire behaves differently outside the Earth’s atmosphere, so scientists want to test whether microgravity will limit flames and what materials will burn.

The question is not academic. In February 1997, an oxygen-generating canister aboard the Russian Mir space station erupted into a searing flame, blocking the crew’s path to an emergency escape ship.

The crew fought the fire with foam extinguishers and water and the blaze eventually burnt itself out, leaving a thick residue of soot.

The Saffire experiment will be the largest fire set in space since the accidental blaze on Mir.

Onboard sensors will record temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, while two cameras snap pictures. The data and images will be relayed to ground control teams.

Nasa plans two more Saffire experiments aboard future Cygnus spacecraft.

* Reuters