APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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APOD Robot
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APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Post by APOD Robot » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:05 am

Image Fire in Space

Explanation: What does fire look like in space? In the gravity on Earth, heated air rises and expands, causing flames to be teardrop shaped. In the microgravity of the air-filled International Space Station (ISS), however, flames are spheres. Fire is the rapid acquisition of oxygen, and space flames meet new oxygen molecules when they float by randomly from all directions -- creating the enveloping sphere. In the featured image taken in the ISS's Combustion Integration Rack, a spherical flame envelopes clusters of hot glowing soot. Without oxygen, say in the vacuum of empty space, a fire would go out immediately. The many chemical reactions involved with fire are complex, and testing them in microgravity is helping humanity not only to better understand fire -- but how to put out fire, too.

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Eclectic Man
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Re: APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Post by Eclectic Man » Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:00 am

There is an interesting article in New Scientist online concerning the shape of flames in zero or micro gravity environments:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg ... -on-earth/

Tszabeau

Re: APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Post by Tszabeau » Tue Aug 10, 2021 11:20 am

Looks like what I’d imagine a cluster of black holes might look like.

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orin stepanek
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Re: APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Post by orin stepanek » Tue Aug 10, 2021 12:36 pm

SpaceFlame_nasa_1100.jpg
Cool; the way fire burns in micro gravity! Cool flames are neat!
642x361-excercise.jpg
Try this while exercising
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Smile today; tomorrow's another day!

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johnnydeep
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Re: APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Post by johnnydeep » Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:18 pm

How big is that ball of flame? The "featured image" link didn't say. I'd guess less than an inch in diameter.

Also - see Chris, the ISS is still used to perform valuable experiments to help humanity! :)
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ta152h0
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Re: APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Post by ta152h0 » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:44 pm

So having a BBQ in space is not possible? pass the ice cold one
Wolf Kotenberg

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neufer
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Re: APOD: Fire in Space (2021 Aug 10)

Post by neufer » Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:52 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Art Neuendorffer