jsc2024e021222 (3/21/2024) --- Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) insert supports the Growth and Extinction Limit (GEL) investigation test image taken in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR). This image was taken just prior to flame extinction while the green LED was flashing on. The LED allows the fuel surface to be seen during the burn, so that several important parameters can be evaluated, such as how far the flame is from the fuel and how much the fuel is heating up. The igniter wire appears in the camera view, but it is in the foreground and not near the flame. In the background on the left, an unburned acrylic sphere waits for its turn to be tested on another day.
jsc2024e044215 (7/10/2024) --- Side view of spread flame in ground-based test for the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction - Oscillatory Flow on Flame Spread (SoFIE-OFFS) investigation. SoFIE-OFFS examines how intermittent or non-steady flame behavior impacts fire spread on Earth. Image courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
iss066e139638 (Feb. 10, 2022) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 66 Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei configures the Combustion Integrated Rack in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module to support a pair of fire safety experiments known as SoFIE, or Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction.
iss067e170237 (June 24, 2022) --- Expedition 67 Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins services components that support the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SOFIE) fire safety experiment inside the International Space Station's Combustion Integrated Rack.
jsc2024e044216 (7/10/2024) --- Top view of spreading flame in ground-based test for the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction - Oscillatory Flow on Flame Spread (SoFIE-OFFS) investigation. SoFIE-OFFS examines how intermittent or non-steady flame s behavior impacts fire spread on Earth. Image courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
jsc2023e013681 (3/9/2023) --- The Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) Growth and Extinction Limits (GEL) experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) studies flame growth and extinction in an effort to improve fire safety in space. This image shows a sequence of snapshots taken about 3 seconds apart. During this test point, the ambient oxygen concentration starts relatively high (28%). Initially, the flame is seen as yellow and sooty. As the ambient pressure is reduced, the flame becomes bluer and continues to shrink until fully extinguished. This gives researchers pressure limit data points for flame extinction that could help improve crew and spacecraft safety for future exploration missions.
iss072e747148 (March 18, 2025) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Don Pettit inserts research hardware into the Combustion Integrated Rack located inside the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. Pettit was configuring the SoFIE-MIST, or the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction - Material Ignition and Suppression Test, investigation that is exploring the flammability of materials in microgravity to improve spacecraft fire safety.
iss072e747154 (March 18, 2025) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Don Pettit inserts research hardware into the Combustion Integrated Rack located inside the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. Pettit was configuring the SoFIE-MIST, or the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction - Material Ignition and Suppression Test, investigation that is exploring the flammability of materials in microgravity to improve spacecraft fire safety.
jsc2023e002281 (1/13/2023) --- The Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) Growth and Extinction Limits (GEL) experiment successfully conducted its first test in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on January 13th. This image shows a 4-cm diameter sphere of acrylic burning in microgravity. The atmosphere started at 17.5% oxygen in nitrogen and air flow is from right to left at 20 cm/s. The flame appears near the end of the burn, having engulfed the entire sphere after growing from a small ignition point on the right side. Image courtesy of NASA.
jsc2024e053517 (8/8/2024) --- A plexiglass rod burns in microgravity for the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction - Material Ignition and Suppression Test (SoFIE-MIST) investigation. Once each rod is ignited, the flame spreads upstream from the ignition end of the rod. As tests progress, the flame spreads along the rod, consuming oxygen. Once the oxygen concentration drops low enough, the flame extinguishes due to natural oxygen depletion. Data to measure the oxygen concentration, flow rate, and heat loss is obtained at the three test pressures. SoFIE-MIST aims to improve understanding of early fire growth behavior and validate models for material flammability, helping to inform the selection of safer materials for future space facilities and determine the best methods for extinguishing fires in space. .
jsc2024e053516 (8/8/2024) --- A plexiglass rod burns in microgravity for the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction - Material Ignition and Suppression Test (SoFIE-MIST) investigation. Once each rod is ignited, the flame spreads upstream from the ignition end of the rod. As tests progress, the flame spreads along the rod, consuming oxygen. Once the oxygen concentration drops low enough, the flame extinguishes due to natural oxygen depletion. Data to measure the oxygen concentration, flow rate, and heat loss is obtained at the three test pressures. SoFIE-MIST aims to improve understanding of early fire growth behavior and validate models for material flammability, helping to inform the selection of safer materials for future space facilities and determine the best methods for extinguishing fires in space.
iss068e022293 (Nov. 14, 2022) --- An interior view of the Destiny U.S. Laboratory at night under ambient light with the main lights turned off. The Destiny module supports a variety of life and physical sciences, technology demonstrations, and educational events. In 2022, hardware for the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SOFIE) facility was installed inside Destiny's Combustion Integrated Rack opening opportunities for new combustion studies.
iss066e137090 (Feb. 8, 2022) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 66 Flight Engineer Thomas Marshburn configures the Combustion Integrated Rack to begin operations for a pair of studies exploring fire growth in microgravity. The two SoFIE, or Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction, studies explore safer, less flammable spacecraft materials as well as fire extinguishing and suppresion techniques in microgravity.