UMD Experiments Launched into Orbit via SpaceX Capsule

Fire Protection Engineering research will further understanding of combustion and pollutants.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  June 6, 2017

CONTACT:
Katie Doyle
301 405 0379
khollan3@umd.edu

SpaceX 'Dragon' lift-off June 3, 2017.

On June 3, 2017, two University of Maryland experiments, led by researchers in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE), were launched into Earth’s orbit on a SpaceX Dragon capsule from the Kennedy Space Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 

These experiments, Burning Rate Emulator (BRE) and Flame Design, will be performed on the International Space Station in 2019 and 2020. They are part of NASA’s ACME suite of experiments that will be performed in the Combustion Integrated Rack.

The microgravity environment experienced on the Space Station allows for controlled studies that are not possible on earth. The results of these experiments will offer further understanding of combustion, which will help to control pollutants in terrestrial combustion processes. 

"Access to microgravity has been a game changer in several areas of combustion research,” said FPE Professor and Co-Investigator Peter Sunderland. “By removing gravity, we can explore combustion physics in novel ways that will enable dramatic breakthroughs.” 

Additional project participants include FPE Professor Emeritus James Quintiere (PI), Akshit Markan (FPE PhD student), and Zhengyang Wang (FPE PhD student).

Related article: http://www.fpe.umd.edu/news/news_story.php?id=10619