NASA starts a Fire in space.

HVACTech

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how funny is that!

Yes. an Ordinary Flame meets the definition of Plasma.

we mere humans do not fully understand either, combustion or Latent heat transfer.
knowing how to use something.. does NOT mean that you understand it.

In an experiment that sounded like a sequence from the Hollywood film director's portfolio, NASA on Tuesday set a fire aboard an unmanned supply capsule as it orbited the Earth in what was billed as the largest intentionally lit blaze in space.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-06-14/nasa-sets-fire-in-space-for-science
 
^^^ Paragraphs of nothingness. Like the space between galaxies.

After releasing the capsule into Earth orbit Tuesday morning and ensuring it was a safe distance from the International Space Station, controllers just before 5 p.m. EDT triggered the fire by remotely igniting a cotton and fiberglass material inside the Cygnus using a hot wire.

The craft was scheduled to remain in orbit for a week to ensure its data was collected before it disintegrates while falling to Earth over the Pacific Ocean.
Then what actually happened ?
 
Great, well, I'm guessing, it burned and depending on how much oxygen was in there, it was either partially or completely destroyed.

Ignition source (heat), oxygen and fuel. The holy trinity. Whichever was contained reacted accordingly. As far as I can imagine knowing what it known. The unknown I don't know too much of, admittedly.
 
So what are the results then ?

I just thought it was funny, that nobody had thought to do that before!

standard electronic ignition controls. use rectification for flame detection... meaning.
a flame will only conduct DC, it will not conduct AC power.
the ability to conduct electricity. is the reason why an ordinary flame qualifies as a plasma.

I was taught by gifted men back in the 80's sir. :)
"Plasma" starts where the Psychometric Chart leaves off.... (above critical pressure)

the Psychometric Chart is a measure of true power. (enthalpy)
in thermodynamics, we can find laws. not theories friend. :)
 
Ignition source (heat), oxygen and fuel. The holy trinity. Whichever was contained reacted accordingly. As far as I can imagine knowing what it known. The unknown I don't know too much of, admittedly.

ya, that reminds me of the Clathrate gun hypothesis. :)
meanwhile, back at the farm.. we have this..

For the first time, astronomers have captured visual evidence of the existence of tubular plasma structures living in the inner layers of the magnetosphere that surrounds the Earth.

"For over 60 years, scientists believed these structures existed but by imaging them for the first time, we've provided visual evidence that they are really there," explained Cleo Loi of the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) and the School of Physics at the University of Sydney.

https://www.sott.net/article/320313-Evidence-of-giant-plasma-structures-above-Earth-say-astronomers
 
Did they Flick their Bic?

look closely at the flame from your bic ronin... see the blue part at the bottom?
a blue flame indicates proper combustion.. and does not give off much light.

a yellow flame gives off light, and indicates incomplete combustion...
a flame is rapid oxidization, rust is slow oxidization.
 
If someone answered the reason, it was above my head and I need "idiot explanations"....lol

But right off hand, I'd say they want real world data on fires in a space vehicle in orbit. Which makes sense with the planning for moon and Mars missions. Understand the physics of the possible problem, and how best to plan procedure for dealing with it. Because while there have been fires before (wasn't there an electrical fire not long ago on the space station?) that were dealt with, maybe they are updating process. Or looking for certain condition that will apply to a new design?
 
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