Current Projects:

• FIST (Forced Ignition and Flame Spread Test):
    The project objective is to study the effect of low gravity on the flammability diagrams of combustible materials used in spacecraft's. The microgravity tests will be conducted in the International Space Station, with the first flight manifested for October 2004.

• Smoldering Combustion:
   
  • STAF (Smoldering and Transition to Flaming in Microgravity):
    The objective of this project is to predict smoldering and the transition to flaming of foams, composite and cellulose materials in conditions expected in space based facilities. It includes experiments in normal gravity and in microgravity -- the latter will be conducted aboard the International Space Station.

  • MSC (Microgravity Smoldering Combustion):
    The objective of this experiment is to study the effects of oxidizer, flow rate, pressure, and orientation, on the ignition and propagation of smoldering combustion. It includes experiments in normal gravity and in microgravity -- the latter are being conducted in the Space Shuttle. This research will improve our ability to predict and prevent smolder-orginated fires on Earth and in space. More information in pdf file.

• COSMIC (CO & Soot in Microgravity Inverse Combustion):
    The objective of the research is to experimentally and computationally study CO and soot processes in laminar, inverse diffusion flames, which is a special case of underventilated combustion. An understanding of noxious gas formation and flame soot signatures during underventilated fires in spacecraft will be obtained.