INFERNITYFLAME IN FREEFALL

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Attribute
Saffire-IISaffire-II
Hardware groupUngrouped
Pillars
Prevention
Fuel phaseSolid
MaterialSIBAL cotton-fiberglass blend, Nomex, and the acrylic glass used for spacecraft windows
ShapeNine flat material samples in a flow duct
SizeNine samples in the experiment kit
O2 concentrationVaried / not specified
PressureVaried / not specified
AirflowVaried / not specified
FacilitySpacecraft Fire Safety Demonstration payload in a Cygnus cargo vehicle
Module / vehicleFree-flying Cygnus after ISS departure
Sensors
  • Video and still imaging
  • Thermocouples
  • Pressure and oxygen sensors
  • Flow duct instrumentation
Variables tested
  • Material type across nine samples
  • Flame spread over fabric, Nomex and acrylic window material
ObjectivesBuild on Saffire-I by expanding the material test portfolio to include Nomex and spacecraft window acrylic at large scale.
Key findings
  • Expanded large-scale flammability testing beyond the single SIBAL fabric used in Saffire-I.
  • Tested Nomex and the same acrylic glass used for spacecraft windows.
  • Samples were ignited remotely after Cygnus departed the station, before destructive reentry.
Relevant environments
Spacecraft cabinSpace stationMars base
SourceNASA PSI