Flammability of Materials on the Moon

Jennifer Zayac; Michael Johnston; Gary Ruff; Paul Ferkul

NASA NTRS · 20240008623

Flammability of Materials on the Moon

Jennifer Zayac·Michael Johnston·Gary Ruff·Paul Ferkul

Abstract

Some materials have recently been found to exhibit increased flammability in Lunar gravity. The reduced buoyancy driven flow on the Moon may present a goldilocks region of decreased convective cooling, while still supplying adequate oxidizer to the flame zone. Combined with the desired elevated oxygen habitat of exploration architectures and the difficulty of rescue, the combination could present increased risk to crew. Flammability of Materials on the Moon will be delivered to the Lunar surface on an HLS lander, and will burn four samples; SIBAL fabric will be exposed to normal air while the PMMA rods will be exposed to the normoxic Space Exploration Atmospheres (SEA) with elevated oxygen in a small atmospheric chamber. Each fuel will have two tests each, one burning upward and one burning downward. The results of flame size, spread rate, atmosphere changes, and extinction oxygen concentration will then be analyzed and used to help quantify the risk and mitigation for future exploration missions.

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Jennifer Zayac, Michael Johnston, Gary Ruff, Paul Ferkul. Flammability of Materials on the Moon. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20240008623

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