Fire is a different beast in space than it is on the ground. When flames burn on Earth, heated gases rise from the fire, drawing oxygen in and pushing combustion products out. In microgravity, hot gases don't rise. Space flames can also burn at a lower temperature and with less oxygen than fires on Earth..
Simply so, is fire possible in space?
The other way a fire could exist in space is through the use of compressed oxygen. Fire however, does not usually occur in space. It is a special case though that would almost certainly have to be done intentionally by humans. Stars for example don't burn; their heat is caused by nuclear fusion.
Likewise, can you light a lighter in space? Originally Answered: does a lighter work in zero gravity ? Matches, candles and old-fashioned liquid-fuel-and-wick lighters don't work very well because they rely on convection to mix the fuel vapor and atmospheric oxygen, and convection relies on gravity.
Accordingly, how does fire burn in space without oxygen?
Fire cannot burn without two critical elements: a fuel (the thing that burns) and an oxidizer (which starts the burning process and keeps it going). So, you need fire to propel your rocket, but you don't have enough oxygen (an oxidizer) in space.
Would a candle work in space?
It isn't true that candles burn for a shorter length of time in space. Dr. Shannon Lucid (Mir), found that candles that burn for 10 minutes or less on Earth produced a flame for up to 45 minutes. When the flame is extinguished, a white ball surrounding the candle tip remains, which may be a fog of flammable wax vapor.
Related Question Answers
How cold is space?
, -454.81 Fahrenheit
What does space smell like?
When astronauts return from space walks and remove their helmets, they are welcomed back with a peculiar smell. An odor that is distinct and weird: something, astronauts have described it, like "seared steak." And also: "hot metal." And also: "welding fumes." Space, Jones elaborated, smells a little like gunpowder.Can you hear in space?
No, you cannot hear any sounds in near-empty regions of space. Sound travels through the vibration of atoms and molecules in a medium (such as air or water). In space, where there is no air, sound has no way to travel.Can fire burn underwater?
Regular fire, i.e. wood or paper burning - no. Because there isn't enough oxygen to start or sustain regular combustion. But there are kinds of combustion which work underwater. You can light a strip of magnesium, and the combustion actually produces oxygen, which is then used to sustain the combustion.Do humans explode in space?
The vacuum of space will pull the air from your body. So if there's air left in your lungs, they will rupture. Oxygen in the rest of your body will also expand. You'll balloon up to twice your normal size, but you won't explode.Can astronauts smoke in space?
Lunney. [Photo: NASA] According to Dee O'Hara, the nurse assigned by NASA to the medical care of the early astronauts, space agency officials asked them not to smoke in public, where they might be photographed with cigarettes.How slow is age in space?
So depending on our position and speed, time can appear to move faster or slower to us relative to others in a different part of space-time. And for astronauts on the International Space Station, that means they get to age just a tiny bit slower than people on Earth. That's because of time-dilation effects.Is there oxygen in space?
Individual atoms of oxygen are common in space, particularly around massive stars. But, molecular oxygen, which makes up about 20 percent of the air we breathe, has eluded astronomers until now.What does outer space sound like?
Space is a vacuum — so it generally doesn't carry sound waves like air does here on Earth (though some sounds do exist in outer space, we just can't hear them). These radio emissions are then converted into sound waves, and the result is the spooky sounds NASA put together into a playlist.Can things catch on fire in space?
Recent tests aboard the International Space Station have shown that fire in space can be less predictable and potentially more lethal than it is on Earth. The flame persists because of the diffusion of oxygen, with random oxygen molecules drifting into the fire.Is Fire affected by gravity?
Fires on earth are anchored by gravity, but the combustion gases are hot and light, so they rise. As the flame goes up, more air is sucked into the base of the fire, feeding more oxygen to the fire and making it burn more strongly.Is the sun burning?
The Sun does not "burn", like we think of logs in a fire or paper burning. The Sun glows because it is a very big ball of gas, and a process called nuclear fusion is taking place in its core.Does a rocket work in space?
In space, rockets zoom around with no air to push against. Rockets and engines in space behave according to Isaac Newton's third law of motion: Every action produces an equal and opposite reaction. When a rocket shoots fuel out one end, this propels the rocket forward — no air is required.Is space a vacuum?
Outer space has very low density and pressure, and is the closest physical approximation of a perfect vacuum. But no vacuum is truly perfect, not even in interstellar space, where there are still a few hydrogen atoms per cubic meter.Is there air in space?
In space, no one can hear you scream. This is because there is no air in space – it is a vacuum. Sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum. 'Outer space' begins about 100 km above the Earth, where the shell of air around our planet disappears.Why do astronauts wear orange suits?
NASA wasn't trying to make a fashion statement when it picked bright orange for the spacesuits astronauts wear when they launch and land on the space shuttle. In fact, that bright hue called International Orange was chosen for safety, because it stands out so well against a landscape.Why fire has no shadow?
Note that fire can have a shadow not because the incoming light beam scatters off the light in the flame. On the fundamental level, one beam of light cannot directly interact with another beam of light. Fires can have shadows because they contain hot air and soot, and not because they contain light.Can you light a candle in outer space?
But what happens when you light a candle, say, on the International Space Station (ISS)? "In microgravity, flames burn differently—they form little spheres," says Williams. Unlike flames on Earth, which expand greedily when they need more fuel, flame balls let the oxygen come to them.Is there up or down in space?
There is an up and down in space. "Down" is simply the direction gravity is pulling you, and "up" is just the opposite direction. Since there is gravity everywhere in space, there is also an up and down everywhere in space. 
