Microgravity n-Heptane Droplet Combustion in Oxygen-Helium Mixtures at Atmospheric Pressure

Results are presented from experiments on the combustion of freely floated n-heptane droplets in helium-oxygen environments conducted in Spacelab onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia during the first launch (STS-83) of the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission in April 1997. During this shortened flight, a total of eight droplets were burned successfully in nominally 300 K oxygen-helium atmospheres having oxygen mole fractions of 25, 30, and 35%...