how does fire look like in outer space?

@alecz23 (486)
Philippines
August 25, 2008 7:14am CST
Any idea what happen if we put a flame in outer space? I'm really intrigue what will gonna happen if someone does that? Does anyone know any facts that can be related to this concept?
3 people like this
4 responses
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
25 Aug 08
I can't give you specific scientific reasoning unfortunately but being able to burn a flame in space was one of the major challenges in achieving space travel. Becasue of the lack of air in space for combustion they needed to be able to generate thrust using the burning of fuel (so therefore fire creation) in a vaccuum. They obviously DID work this out but I am not certain of the methods concerning HOW. If you were to search for "combustion in a vaccuum" or around rocket science sites I am sure there would be detailed information on this. In terms of how it would LOOK in space? I can assume that it for one would not be as far reaching with the flames as on earth and would be considerably concentrated to the source because there would not be air for it to reach far; and the colour of the flame would be dependent on the fuel used.....
2 people like this
@alecz23 (486)
• Philippines
25 Aug 08
Thanks for the detailed answer dude, anyway I'm just curious and I know the 3 elements for combustion so if oxygen is supplied in zero gravity I'm just concern what would happen and I know It's possible to put flame in outerspace. Sorry I would like to update my question regarding flame in zero gravity? do they have a picture of it done?
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
25 Aug 08
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=how-does-a-flame-behave-i
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
25 Aug 08
I would think that since space is a vacuum and there is no oxygen to support combustion, so there could not be a flame in space (unless oxygen were provided, such as for space welding--is that possible?). I'm still trying to figure out if one needs a flashlight in space...
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@alecz23 (486)
• Philippines
25 Aug 08
I know there are 3 elements to start a fire but I was wondering if all of it is present so what do it looks like in zero gravity? sorry I want to update my question...
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
Fire yes fire. i think you are talking about the sun my friend i think the fire will be like that how the sun is. first the space is nothing means no air in the space but how can the fire be their without air or oxygen my friend that will be the first ? again.
@alecz23 (486)
• Philippines
25 Aug 08
please read the above topic iv already explained that and whos talking about the sun?
@Sam334 (125)
• Singapore
6 Sep 08
Two possiblities. 1. Due to absence of required elements, the fire will disappear into thin "air". 2. If the elements exists, it will float around, like a "ghost-fire" many people talked about.