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As manned spacecraft have evolved into larger and more complex configurations, the mandate for preventing, detecting, and extinguishing on-board fires has grown proportionately to ensure the success of progressively ambitious missions. The closed environment and high value of manned spacecraft offer the Fire Detection and Suppression (FDS) systems designer significant challenges. With the presence of Oxygen (O2), flammable materials, and ignition sources, it is impossible to completely remove the likelihood of a spacecraft fire. Manned spacecraft contain these three ingredients for fire; therefore, it becomes profitable to review past designs of FDS systems and ground testing to determine system performance and lessons learned in the past for present and future applications.

The successes of the long-duration MDA/NASA test programs for advanced life-support systems conducted prior to 1971 were highly dependent on the selection and training of both the test crews that remained inside the test chamber throughout the test periods and the outside operating staff. The operating staff was responsible for overall test performance, crew safety monitoring, operation and maintenance of the test facilities, and collection and maintenance of data. A selection, training, and certification program was developed and performed to ensure operating staff members had the correct technical skills and could work effectively together with the inside crew. A training program was designed to ensure that each selected operating staff member was capable of performing all assigned functions and was sufficiently cross-trained to serve at other positions on a contingency basis, if needed.

A method for applying an organic coating to Z-93, an inorganic white thermal control paint, was developed to protect Z-93 from contamination and damage. A layer of FEP Teflon™ was applied over Z-93 to provide a smooth, continuous surface without adversely affecting its optical properties. Additionally, new low-absorptance, controlled-emittance thermal control paints were developed for low Earth orbit (LEO) applications, such as the International Space Station. These paints have a range of infrared emittances from 0.26 to 0.88, and are stable in simulated LEO environments, including atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation. Patent applications have been submitted for these concepts.