When a fire starts to burn... 🔥 SoFIE-GEL is the latest combustion experiment to be conducted aboard the ISS. The experiment studies burning in microgravity by examining the characteristics of flame growth and extinction. Results could provide further insight into early fire growth behavior and help determine the best fire suppression techniques in future space facilities. Researchers could also use these results to safely select spacecraft cabin materials. Together all of this is working to keep future crews safe. SoFIE-GEL successfully conducted its first test aboard the space station on Jan. 13, 2023 using the space station’s Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR). Image description: This image shows a 4-cm diameter sphere of acrylic burning in microgravity. The orange, yellow and blue flame is ignited around a solid, spherical fuel and engulfs the entire sphere after growing from a small ignition point on the right side. Credit: NASA #ISS #SpaceStation #Microgravity #Research #...