INFERNITYFLAME IN FREEFALL

SIDE-BY-SIDE

Compare investigations

Put up to three records side by side: fuel, conditions, hardware, sensors, variables and findings. Unknown fields are shown honestly, not filled in.

Select records
1/3

Choose up to three. Selection order becomes column order.

Attribute
Hardware groupUngrouped
Pillars
Detection
Fuel phaseNo fuel
MaterialTeflon, Kapton, silicone rubber, cellulose, and dibutyl-phthalate on a porous wick
ShapePyrolysis samples on a heated porous wick
Size30 samples, six per material
O2 concentrationVaried / not specified
PressureVaried / not specified
AirflowVaried / not specified
FacilityMicrogravity Science Glovebox (MSG) smoke-generation hardware
Module / vehicleInternational Space Station
Sensors
  • P-Trak condensation particle counter
  • Ionization smoke detector (Space Shuttle type)
  • Photoelectric light-scattering smoke detector (ISS type)
  • Thermal precipitator for transmission electron microscopy
Variables tested
  • Sample material and pyrolysis temperature
  • Airflow rate
  • Smoke aging or residence time
  • Detector response across particle sizes
ObjectivesMeasure the size distribution of smoke produced by overheated spacecraft materials in microgravity and evaluate the ionization and photoelectric detector technologies used on the Shuttle and ISS.
Key findings
  • A substantial portion of aerosol mass was in particles larger than 1 micron, while Teflon smoke was primarily sub-micron.
  • All samples produced significant sub-micron particulate, but light-scattering detectors performed well for most cases.
  • Smoke aging reduced particle number counts substantially while mass concentration stayed relatively steady, consistent with coagulation.
  • Broader particle size distributions can come from pre-fire overheat events, favoring detectors that measure a wider size spectrum.
Relevant environments
Spacecraft cabinSpace stationLunar baseMars basePressurized rover
SourceNASA PSI