The newest additions to the International Space Station, JAXA's Kibo Space Laboratories, are facing an unforeseen challenge. Unforeseen because it's getting too dark to see anything. Over half of the 21 florescent bulbs in the labs have already burned out since the modules' installation early this summer. Unfortunately with other bulbs burning out in the station, there are no spares left on board. As it gets darker in Kibo's two modules, JAXA is concerned that performing experiments will be too difficult. Senior managers believe the problem is due to the vacuum inside the bulb deteriorating since being in orbit. The Japanese Space Agency is currently working on an LED replacement for the fluorescent tubes, but that new system won't be ready until 2010. Astronauts on board will just have to wait until at least November when the next ISS-servicing Shuttle flight arrives with some spare bulbs. Can you light a candle in space?
[Wired Science]
Home to PointNiner
Monday, September 15, 2008
It's Getting Dark In The Kibo Space Lab
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I know it was probably just a rhetorical question, but I am pretty sure you can light a candle in space just fine, as long as you are in an area with oxygen, such as the ISS. I don't think lack gravity has any effect, just lack of air.
In fact, you can light a candle on the ISS, but it's no help. Because there's no gravity, there's no convection to pull the burning aersolized wax out toward oxygen-rich air, so the flame stays spherical and very dim. I think there's a video of this on YouTube somewhere.
Also, burning the oxygen you're breathing isn't a very good idea.
You can start a fire, but it won't burn for long. Under normal gravity, the lighter soot and other gasses float up allowing fresh oxygen to get to the flame. In space, the gasses linger around the flame, cut off the oxygen supply, and will eventually extinguish the flame.
read ええとハロー
Post a Comment