FLAME EXTINGUISHMENT EXPERIMENT – 2 (FLEX-2)
Research Area: Combustion Science
Expedition(s): 21-ongoing
Principal Investigator(s): ● Forman A. Williams, PhD, University of California, San Diego,
La Jolla, California
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Flame Extinguishment Experiment-2 (FLEX-2) is the second investigation on the International
Space Station (ISS) that uses small droplets of fuel to study the special burning characteristics of
fire in space. FLEX-2 studies the rate and manner in which fuel is burned, the conditions that
are necessary for soot to form, and
the way in which a mixture of fuels
evaporate before burning. The
results from FLEX-2 will help
scientists better understand how
fire behaves in space. It will also
provide important information that
will be useful in increasing the fuel
efficiency of engines using liquid
fuels.
EARTH BENEFITS
FLEX-2 helps us understand and
deal with combustion generated
pollution, and addresses fire
hazards associated with using liquid
combustibles on Earth.
SPACE BENEFITS
FLEX-2 results will help in fire safety designs for future space exploration vehicles.
RESULTS
FLEX-2 data collection is ongoing; results will be published following data analysis.
This investigation is ongoing and additional results are pending publication.
Video screen shot of FLEX Ignition 1 on March 5, 2009 (GMT
64/17:21). Beginning of combustion event in cabin air. NASA
image.