Topical: Challenges and Research Needs for Micro- and Partial-Gravity Fires

Abstract

Spacecraft fire safety has always been an essential component for any successful space mission. The importance increases exponentially for longer duration missions, such as the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and the “next giant leap” to Mars. If fire occurs in the spacecraft, terrestrial help for recovery may not be possible. Crew members have limited options to suppress and escape the fires and the associated vitiated atmosphere. The partial gravity conditions after landing on the Moon or Mars, as well as the high oxygen concentration proposed for the Lunar habitat, bring in additional challenges for spacecraft fire safety. To ensure safety and mission success, there is an urgent need to advance the knowledge of fire behavior in micro and partial gravity. This will also improve the understanding of how buoyancy flow plays a role in fire behavior, leading to a more complete theory of fire dynamics for Earth applications.