Space Exploration

When I saw the ship was full of smoke, my natural earthly reaction was to want to open a window. And then I was truly afraid for the first time. You're in such a small space that you can't escape from the smoke. You can't just open a window to ventilate the room.

Cosmonaut A. Lazutkin, 1997.

Fire safety is a critical concern for human space exploration. The risk of accidental fire is inherently high, threatening both crew safety and spacecraft integrity. This risk is further amplified in the upcoming low-pressure, oxygen-enriched exploration atmospheres—such as the Gateway module (26.5% oxygen, 70 kPa) and the Lunar Lander (34% oxygen, 56.5 kPa). Additionally, the fundamental mechanisms of heat and mass transfer in flames are significantly influenced by reduced gravity, leading to dramatic changes in fire behavior. For instance, under certain conditions, flames can spread more rapidly in lunar gravity than at Earth’s gravity, raising concerns about the reliability of current ground-based testing for designing fire-safe spacecraft and lunar modules.

To address these challenges, we develop advanced experimental setups to study the effects of gravity on fire hazards, examining both the fuel and gas phases. The insights gained from these experiments enhance our understanding of fire spread and smoke emission mechanisms, enabling the development of accurate numerical models and safer designs for future space missions.