- Author
-
Kimzey, J. H.
- Title
- Skylab Experiment M479 Zero Gravity Flammability.
- Coporate
- National Aeronautics and Space Admin., Houston, TX
- Report
-
NASA-TM-X-70252,
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Book or Conf
- 3rd Space Processing Symposium on Skylab Results. M-74-5. Volume 1. April 30-May 1, 1974.,
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL,
115-130 p.,
1974
- Keywords
-
burning rate
|
flammability
|
skylab program
|
weightlessness
|
extinguishing
|
flame propagation
|
ignition
|
smoke
|
self-extinguishment
- Identifiers
- zero gravity
- Abstract
- Flammability under conditions of weightlessness was investigation in Skylab 4. Thirty-seven tests using six materials were successfully carried out to learn more about how a flame acts in the absence of convection. Specific objectives were to note the extent of surface flame propagation and flashover to adjacent materials, rates of surface and bulk flame propagation, self-extinguishment, and extinguishment by both vacuum and water spray. All tests were performed and all hardware functioned properly, although an operational oversight caused the water in the supply tank to be less than the minimum required pressure. Burning rates were significantly reduced as anticipated from earlier aircraft tests. Ignition and extinguishment also appeared to be similar to one-g. Smoke patterns also were noted.