NASA plans moon fire experiment to boost Artemis mission safety

NASA has announced the plans to ignite fire on the lunar surface in a first-of-its kind experiment, aiming to boost the safety of astronauts.

After achieving 10-days-long record-breaking lunar flyby, NASA is planning to send astronauts on the moon under its Artemis IV mission scheduled for 2028.

At the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, the researchers unveiled a new project titled "Flammability of Materials on the Moon”, exploring how fires will behave in the Moon’s unique gravitational environment. The project will deliver an unique insight into fire safety while going on future deep-space missions.

On Earth, flames behave differently, taking on a teardrop shape as cooler air sinks in the presence of gravity. On the other hand, microgravity produces more spherical flame, thereby altering how fires spread.

According to preliminary numerical models, the conditions prevailing on the moon will turn the fire into a more hazardous thing as compared to zero-gravity.

As per researchers’ observations, flame spread rates may actually peak in partial gravity environments (like those on the Moon or Mars) rather than in Earth’s full gravity or the weightlessness of the ISS. Eventually, this behaviour will pose a challenge to the design of future habitats and astronaut protective gear.

If the recent experiment proves successful, the mission will be a breakthrough in improving safety measures for Artemis astronauts. However, rigorous testing is impossible without sustained human presence on the surface of the moon.