Working together with an international team of scientists, researchers at the University of Bremen are about to embark on a project in outer space. The project is rather like playing with fire, as the objective is to experiment with a controlled fire on a space transporter. The twist is that space transporters, or automated transfer vehicles (ATV) as they are known, burn up in any case on re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Unmanned space transporters are normally used to transfer supplies like provisions, equipment and fuel to the International Space Station. Once they have completed this task, they are returned to Earth, where they burn up on re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The researchers want to find out whether this otherwise “waste product” can be used to carry out experiments under conditions of zero gravity. The experiment will also be used to improve fire protection in manned space craft.
In order to calculate the risks involved, the scientists first have to carry out a series of different tests to find out how fire reacts in space. Among other things, this entails observing the combustion characteristics of the materials involved and pushing the pressures generated to the upper limits.
The research team has to work within a very tight time frame; only two of three planned flights can be used for their project. Beforehand, they have to install an independent broad-band connection for data transfer between the ATV and the ground station so they can monitor the experiment and evaluate the results. If they can’t manage to get this done before 2013, there will be only one more chance left: ATV 5, which is planned to be launched in 2014. The tests are set to begin in two months, and the first experiments in two-and-a-half years from now.
For further information:
Universität Bremen
Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation (ZARM)
Christian Eigenbrod
Phone: +49 421 218-4078
e-mail: christian.eigenbrodprotect me ?!zarm.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
und
Birgit Kinkeldey
Phone: +49 421 218-4801
e-mail: birgit.kinkeldeyprotect me ?!zarm.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
