PSI recordPSI-25Investigation dossier

BASS-II

Burning and Suppression of Solids - II

Principal investigator: Paul Ferkul
Platform: International Space Station (ISS)
Hardware: Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG)
Dates: 01-01-2010 → 12-31-2022
Licence: CC0-1.0
PSI version: v4 · modified 24-Nov-2025
Publications listed: 17

PSI record (opens in a new tab)doi 10.60555/4qc4-de67 (opens in a new tab)psi.nasa.gov/physci/repo/data/investigations/PSI-25

Evidence proximity, not a safety rating. This page describes what was tested and where each value comes from.

Footprint · Microgravity

Where BASS-II’s runs sit in condition space, in the Atlas chart window. Other investigations’ runs in this regime are dimmed.

129 of 129 runs drawn.

Source: NASA PSI run tables (snapshot 2026-11-14) and the published papers listed under Sources. Evidence proximity, not a safety rating; not a hazard map.

Objective

As written in the PSI record:

BASS-II results contribute to the combustion computational models used in the design of fire detection and suppression systems in microgravity and on Earth. Objectives Include: 1) Study the ignition, flame growth, flame spread, and extinction limits for solid fuels burning in low-velocity forced flows in microgravity. 2) Begin to bridge the gap between the normal gravity NASA-STD-6001 Test #1 method, ground-based microgravity tests, and actual material flammability in microgravity. 3) Provide SoFIE PIs with preliminary data to refine Science Requirements. 4) Practical, realistic (thicker) fuels in typical geometries will be examined, including slabs, cylinders, and spherical sections. The primary variables include: • Forced flow velocity (speed and direction) • Ambient oxygen concentration (via working volume nitrogen vitiation) • Sample geometry (rods, spherical section, slabs, films, and fabric sheets

Fingerprint COMPUTED

Computed from the 129 run rows below: what varied, what was held constant, and what was never recorded.

Varied

O₂ 13.6–22.2 % · 50 levels · measured
Total Frames Shot · 110 values
Sample # · 107 values
Final CO (ppm) · 100 values
Fan display · 99 values
Air display · 90 values
Final CO2 % by vol · 81 values
Initial CO (ppm) · 67 values
Calibrated final O2 % by vol · 66 values
+8 more source columns

Held constant

Pressure 101.3 kPa · nominal (stated, not measured)

Not recorded

Flow “Flow restrictor”, “Fan display” only — no cm/s value

Condition axes: what varied and what was held constant
Axis	State	Range	Basis	Recorded
O₂	varied	13.6–22.2 % · 50 levels	measured	129/129
Pressure	held constant	101.3 kPa	nominal (stated, not measured)	129/129
Flow	not recorded	“Flow restrictor”, “Fan display” only — no cm/s value	not recorded	0/129

Placeable: 129 of 129 record O₂ and can be placed (the engine can compute a distance); 129 also record pressure and appear on the charts.
Gravity: Microgravity (129)
Fuel classes: Solid · thick (56) · Solid · thin (45) · Solid · unclassified (28)
Flow regime: regime not recorded (129)
Materials (49): 2 cm SIBAL (17) · 1/4" clear rod (15) · 1/4" black rod (12) · 1 cm SIBAL (8) · 3/8" black rod (7) · 1 cm wide 200 micron thick PMMA (5) · 3/8" clear rod (5) · 1/2" clear PMMA rod (4) · 0.5" black rod (4) · 2 cm 0.1 mm PMMA film (3) · 2 cm 100 micron thick PMMA (3) · Nomex natural (nomex III) (3) · +37 more
Outcomes: not recorded (129)
Measured quantities: initial CO₂ [% vol] (127) · final O₂ (post-burn) [% vol] (122) · final CO [ppm] (120)
Per-run identifiers: Test #
Data-quality flags: ambiguous-unit × 129: The source column does not state its unit unambiguously; the unit was inferred.
nominal-value × 129: A value stated in a document, not measured in this run.
unverified-transcription × 129: Not yet checked against the primary source.
out-of-range × 5: A value lies outside the physically expected range; it is kept as recorded.

Where the runs sit: O₂ × pressure, zoomed to the data

129 of 129 runs record both ambient O₂ and pressure and are plotted.

Microgravity 129 runs

PSI run, pressure nominal (stated)
reference atmosphere

Source: the normalized O₂ and pressure of each run in the run table below (NASA PSI run tables or the cited paper); the original cell and any conversion are in each run’s provenance. Reference atmospheres are MARGIN’s presets. Not a hazard map.

Run table

Normalized values with the original cell beneath each. Inspect a row for its conversions, flags, source and distance to your scenario.

BASS-II: 129 runs from PSI-25_Experimental table_BASS-II.csv, showing the first 50.

BASS-II: 129 runs. Each value cell shows the normalized value and, beneath it, the original cell as it appears in the source.
Row	Material	Fuel class	g	O₂ %	Pressure kPa	Flow cm/s	Outcome	Flags
1	100 micron PMMA film 2 cm wide	Solid · thin	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
2	200 micron PMMA film 2 cm wide	Solid · thin	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, out-of-range, unverified-transcription
3	100 micron film 2 cm wide	Solid · thin	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
4	300 micron PMMA film 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
5	200 micron 2 cm wide	Solid · thin	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
6	2 cm 0.1 mm PMMA film	Solid · thin	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
7	400 micron film 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
8	2 cm 0.2 mm PMMA film	Solid · thin	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
9	2 cm 0.1 mm PMMA film	Solid · thin	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
10	1 cm 0.2 mm PMMA film	Solid · thin	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
11	2 cm 0.2 mm PMMA film	Solid · thin	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
12	300 micron film 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
13	2 cm 0.4 mm thick film	Solid · unclassified	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
14	1 cm wide 200 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	15.015	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
15	2 cm 0.1 mm PMMA film	Solid · thin	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
16	2 cm 100 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	17.317.3	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
17	1 cm wide 200 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	17.517.5	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
18	1 cm wide 200 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	17.417.4	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
19	2 cm 100 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	17.317.3	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
20	2 cm 100 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	17.417.4	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
21	1 cm wide 200 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	20.820.8	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
22	1 cm wide 200 micron thick PMMA	Solid · thin	µg	20.720.7	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
23	Nomex natural (nomex III)	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
24	Nomex natural (nomex III)	Solid · unclassified	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
25	Nomex natural (nomex III)	Solid · unclassified	µg	21.721.7	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
26	Japan Wax candle	Solid · unclassified	µg	17.417.4	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
27	1 mm thick PMMA 1 sided 2 cm	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
28	3 mm thick PMMA 1 sided 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
29	2 cm wide 5 mm thick 1 sided PMMA	Solid · unclassified	µg	20.820.8	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
30	5 mm thick PMMA 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	21.821.8	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
31	3 mm thick PMMA 2 sided 2 cm thick	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
32	1 mm thick PMMA 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	21.821.8	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
33	1 cm wide PMMA 1 mm thick	Solid · unclassified	µg	18.918.9	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
34	1 cm wide PMMA 2 mm thick	Solid · unclassified	µg	19.119.1	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
35	1 cm wide PMMA 3 mm thick	Solid · unclassified	µg	18.018	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
36	4 mm thick 1 cm wide PMMA slab	Solid · unclassified	µg	20.120.1	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
37	1 cm wide PMMA 5 mm thick	Solid · unclassified	µg	20.020	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
38	2 mm thick PMMA 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	21.721.7	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
39	4 mm thick PMMA 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	20.820.8	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
40	2mm thick PMMA 1 sided 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
41	2 cm 4 mm 1 sided PMMA slab	Solid · unclassified	µg	21.021	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
42	1 mm thick PMMA 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	19.219.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
43	2 cm wide PMMA 2 mm thick	Solid · unclassified	µg	18.818.8	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
44	2 cm wide PMMA 3 mm thick	Solid · unclassified	µg	17.917.9	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
45	4 mm thick 2 cm 2ide PMMA slab	Solid · unclassified	µg	19.019	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
46	5 mm thick PMMA 2 cm wide	Solid · unclassified	µg	18.018	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
47	1/4" clear rod	Solid · thick	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
48	1/4" clear rod	Solid · thick	µg	22.222.2	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
49	1/4" clear rod	Solid · thick	µg	18.018	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription
50	1/4" clear rod	Solid · thick	µg	18.018	101.3 nominalstated in a document	not recorded—	not recorded	ambiguous-unit, nominal-value, unverified-transcription

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Reading the record, its runs and their sources.