[net.space] candle in space

@S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:amon@cmu-ri-fas.arpa (07/29/85)

From: Dale.Amon@CMU-RI-FAS

I believe some combustion experiments have been done, and seem to remember
having seen a film clip. I do not remember whehter it was on Skylab or the
v-comet.

Since there is no gravity, only conduction and radiation are at work.
Combustion products build up in a globe around the flame until it is snuffed
out, but the heat is retained much longer than in gravity with the attendant
high speed convection flows, so moving the object will cause it to
reignite.

I think if you want it to burn with a nice steady light, you'll have to
supply some convective transport, possibly by using a muffin fan or one of
those new piezoelectric fans.


PS: A word to Eugene Miya about communications restrictions: you should give
your employers a copy of an old Buffalo Springfield song, one verse of which
has the following lyrics:

	Paranoia strikes deep,
	Into your life it will creep.
	Starts when you're always afraid,
	To step out of line,
	The man come, and take you away.

	Stop, children, what's that sound,
	Everybody look what's goin' down...

				For What It's Worth....
				Dale Amon