OBSERVATIONS OF CANDLE FLAMES UNDER VARIOUS ATMOSPHERES IN MICROGRAVITY

Abstract

The ignition and behavior of candle flames was observed photographically in free-fall (drop tower) tests under 19%-25% O 2 concentrations in a nitrogen-diluted, 1 atm environnement. A few tests were also conducted with helium dilution and with ignition in normal gravity. Compared to normal gravity, the microgravity flames were of lower power and greater sphericity