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Fire Safety in Spacecraft
Author(s) -
Friedman Robert
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1018(199609)20:5<235::aid-fam580>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - spacecraft , fire safety , aeronautics , spacecraft design , aerospace engineering , space shuttle , engineering , space suit , environmental science , civil engineering
Fire prevention, detection, and suppression requirements for spacecraft are based on those established for terrestrial and aircraft systems. In the weightless (or microgravity) environment of an orbiting spacecraft, however, the buoyant upward flow typical of fires in terrestrial environments is nearly absent; and this feature profoundly influences fire characteristics and responsive safety strategies. This paper reviews the findings of microgravity‐combustion research that are relevant to techniques of spacecraft fire safety. These practical applications are further illustrated by descriptions of some fire‐safety requirements and design features of the Shuttle and those in progress for the International Space Station.