MicroFire Flame Lab

Direct evidence

Ready

Fast runsExit Lab

Mission presets

GravityEarth1 gMoon⅙ gMars⅜ gOrbit≈0 g

Oxygen 16.5 %

Airflow 3 cm/s

Pressure 101.3 kPa

NASA tests in this atlas span 54–101 kPa (Saffire IV–VI and BASS-II).

MaterialPMMA (acrylic plastic)30 NASA testsCotton/fiberglass fabric38 NASA testsNomex (fire-resistant fabric)5 NASA testsSilicone4 NASA testsCotton jersey1 NASA tests

Gravity: Orbit (microgravity)
O₂: 16.5 %
Pressure: 101.3 kPa
Airflow: 3 cm/s
Material: PMMA (acrylic plastic)

Ready: press Run experiment

Drag to orbit

Direct evidence

NASA evidence acquired

NASA evidence match

BASS-II test B16

BASS and BASS-II

Your conditionNASA test

MaterialMatch
GravityMatch
OxygenMatch
PressureClose
AirflowMatch

MicroFire evidence-matching heuristic, not a NASA score.

NASA recorded: Quenched as flow was reduced

Source: Burning and Suppression of Solids–II (BASS-II) Summary Report, PDF p. 111

Why did this happen?

In orbit, hot air doesn't rise. The flame depends on moving air to bring it fresh oxygen.

From NASA: Thickness and Fuel Preheating Effects on Materia…

Slow air is a tricky zone: NASA found flames very sensitive to small changes in airflow here.

From NASA: Thickness and Fuel Preheating Effects on Materia… · From NASA: Concurrent Flame Growth, Spread and Extinction o…

With less oxygen, flames spread more slowly and some never got going.

From NASA: Burning and Suppression of Solids–II (BASS-II) … · From NASA: Concurrent Flame Growth, Spread and Extinction o…

The flame drawing illustrates NASA's recorded outcome; it is not footage.

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