DUST AND AEROSOL MEASUREMENT FEASIBILITY TEST (DAFT)
Research Area: Fire Suppression and Detection
Expedition(s): 10 and 13
Principal Investigator(s): ● David L. Urban, PhD, NASA’s Glenn Research Center,
Cleveland, Ohio
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Dust Aerosol Measurement Feasibility
Test (DAFT) releases particles in the
International Space Station (ISS) atmosphere
to test the ability of different equipment to
measure the levels of dust and air quality.
Accurate fire detection requires being able
to distinguish dust particles from soot
particles and being able to detect smoke
particles of the appropriate size. This
experiment will provide the first systematic
measurements of the sizes of particles in the
air aboard ISS over time and prove the
usefulness of the P-Trak Ultrafine Particle
Counter (a small handheld, commercial
device). If successful, the detector will be used in the Smoke and Aerosol Measuring Experiment
(SAME).
EARTH BENEFITS
The smoke detectors developed from the results of this experiment can also be useful in other
extreme environments on Earth, such as submarines or underwater laboratories. Accurate
detection of smoke in these environments can save lives.
SPACE BENEFITS
Extended duration spaceflight missions with larger vessels will require fire detection systems
with increased reliability and sensitivity. DAFT is the first step in the development of an
Advance Fire Detection System for use on future space exploration missions. Additionally, the
devices in this experiment can be used to provide more detailed information about the
character of the particulate in the atmosphere aboard the ISS.
Video screen shot of ISS Commander and Science
Officer Leroy Chiao performing DAFT operations on
station during Expedition 10.