Fire in Orbit: Equipping the Commercial Spaceflight Industry for Fighting Fire in Micro-Gravity

Autors/ores

  • Trent Cybela University of Wisconsin-Platteville

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17307/wsc.v0i0.153

Paraules clau:

Fire, Combustion, Commercial Space, Micro-Gravity, Fire Extinguisher, PFE

Resum

For several years, Orbital Technologies (ORBITEC) has had keen interest in the
development of a portable fire suppression system intended for use in commercial
spaceflight applications. With the aid of recent developments in fine water mist (FWM)
atomization technologies, and partnerships with the University of Wisconsin – Platteville,
a portable fire extinguisher (PFE) prototype has been developed and constructed. The
commercial extinguisher is capable of operation in both gravity and microgravity
environments regardless of orientation, and eliminates the use of toxic carbon dioxide as
a fluid suppressant. Preliminary testing of the PFE prototype has demonstrated promising
discharge ranges and rates at various pressures. Testing has also confirmed the
prototype’s ability to extinguish stored energy fires, in the form of lithium ion batteries.

Referències

Angel, A.-M., & McKinnon, J. T. (2003). Suppression of Premixed Flames by Water Mist in Microgravity:

Findings from the MIST Experiment on STS-107. Golden: Colorado School of Mines.

Barr, S. (2010). Evaluating Failures and Near Misses in Human Spaceflight History for Lessons for Future

Human Spaceflight. Houston: The Aerospace Corporation.

Butz, J. R., Tuchi, C. S., Kimball, A., McKinnon, T., & Riedel, E. P. (2014). Patent No. 8746357 B2. United

States of America.

Butz, J., Carriere, T., Abbud-Madrid, A., & Easton, J. (2011). Zero Gravity Aircraft Testing of a Prototype

Portable Fire Extinguisher for use in Spacecraft. International Association for the Advancement

of Space Safety.

Friedman, R. (1999). Fire Safety in the Low-Gravity Spacecraft Environment. Cleveland: NASA Glenn

Research Center.

Hickman, J. M., Dietrich, D. L., Hicks, M. C., Nayagam, V., & Stocker, D. (2012). FLEX: A Decisive Step

Forward in NASA's Combustion Research Program. 1st Annual International Space Station

Research and Development (p. 21). Denver: American Astonautical Society.

Martin, C. E., & Dalee, R. C. (1993). Spacecraft Fire Detection and Suppression (FDS) Systems: An

Overview and Recommendations for Future Flights. Warrendale, PA: SAE.

McKinnie, J. M. (1997). Fire Response Aboard the International Space Station. Warrendale, PA: SAE.

Rodriguez, B., & Young, G. (2013). Development of the International Space Station Fine Water Mist

Portable Fire Extinguisher. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics , 1-8.

Sanchez, M. J. (2000). A Human Factors Evaluations of a Methodology for Pressurized Crew Module

Acceptability for Zero-Gravity Ingress of Spacecraft. Houston: NASA Johnson Space Center.

Smith, R. L., & Kashiwagi, T. (1989). Expert Systems Applied to Spacecraft Fire Safety. Gaithersburg:

National Institute of Sandards and Technology.

UCSD Jacobs. (2012, January 31). How Do You Fight Fire in Space? Experements Provide Some Answers.

Retrieved June 30, 2014, from UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering:

http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/news_releases/release.sfe?id=1156

Wieland, P. O. (1999). Living Together in Space: The Design and Operation of the Life Support Systems

on the Interantioal Space Station. Huntsville: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Youngblood, W. W., & Vedha-Nayagam, M. (1989). Advanced Spacecraft Fire Safety: Proposed Projects

and Program Plan. Hunstville: Wyle Laboratories.

Publicades

2016-02-11

Com citar

Cybela, T. (2016). Fire in Orbit: Equipping the Commercial Spaceflight Industry for Fighting Fire in Micro-Gravity. Proceedings of the Wisconsin Space Conference. https://doi.org/10.17307/wsc.v0i0.153

Número

Secció

Physics and Engineering