Zero-G Flame

[Jay-qu]

when you light a flame or fire on Earth, the flame extends upward (relative to surface) though wind and other factors affect it also.

So what would a flame look like if you had one under zero-G conditions?

[Tormod]

Good question.

 

NASA has an interesting story about this:

 

Not Just Another Old Flame

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast12may_1.htm

[Qfwfq]

It depends very much on how you produce it. If you use a system such as the oxy-acetylene welder, in which both gasses are coming out of the nozzle, it depends less on up or down so, in zero-g, it would just go the way you point it. If you tried to burn wood without supplying a current of air, it would be hard to have a steady fire and things would be quite unpredictable. Chances are it wouldn't stay alight for lack of oxygen but any motion of air would change this. I don't think I would be relaxed in trying it inside an orbiting space station.