Are Smoke Detectors A Space Spinoff?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Are smoke detectors a space spinoff? Further, NASA did not invent the smoke detector. NASA’s connection to the modern smoke detector is that it made one with adjustable sensitivity as part of the Skylab project. The device was made commercially available by Honeywell. The consumer could use it

to avoid “nuisance” alarms while cooking

.

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Why did NASA make smoke detectors?

Further, NASA did not invent the smoke detector. NASA’s connection to the modern smoke detector is that it made one with adjustable sensitivity as part of the Skylab project. The device was made commercially available by Honeywell. The consumer could use it

to avoid “nuisance” alarms while cooking

.

Would a smoke detector work in space?

But detecting smoke in space isn’t quite so simple.

Smoke detectors work by looking for particles in the air that are about the same size as the particles normally found in smoke

. However, a 1996 NASA Glenn study showed that smoke particles in space are bigger than those on Earth.

What is the spacing between smoke detectors?

The current code requirements for smoke detector spacing state that the maximum distance between detectors is a nominal

30 feet

, and the distance between detectors must not exceed half of the nominal spacing measured from the wall or any partitions within the top portion of the ceiling height.

How was a smoke detector used in space?

Smoke detectors

In the 1970s, NASA partnered with Honeywell Corp. to create a device that would

detect smoke and toxic gases

in Skylab, America’s first space station. The result was the first ionization smoke detector, using a minute amount of the radioactive isotope Americium-241.

What are some space spinoffs?

  • CMOS Image Sensor. …
  • Memory Foam. …
  • Scratch-Resistant Sunglasses. …
  • Cordless Vacuums. …
  • Global Positioning System (GPS) …
  • Vi – Artificial Intelligence (AI) Personal Trainer. …
  • Lighter, Warmer Outerwear. …
  • LED Lighting Keeps Users Awake.

What inventions came from the space program?

  • Artificial limbs. …
  • Scratch-resistant lenses. …
  • Insulin pump. …
  • Firefighting equipment. …
  • DustBusters. …
  • LASIK. …
  • Shock absorbers for buildings. …
  • Solar cells.

Can there be smoke in space?


Smoking is not allowed on the ISS

for several reasons: Smoking is a fire hazard and since the station is an oxygen-rich environment, it would be very easy for a fire to get out of control. Even without the risk of fire, the ISS is too small a place to permit astronauts to smoke freely.

Was there a fire on the space station?



Over 1,500 flames were ignited

, more than three times the number originally planned,” Stocker said. “Several ‘firsts’ were also achieved, perhaps most notably in the areas of cool and spherical flames.”

Why was the smoke detector invented?

The smoke detector was actually created by accident by a Swiss scientist, Walter Jaeger. Jaeger was

attempting to invent a device which could detect poison gas

. The idea was that the gas would enter the alarm system, and alter an electrical current inside, thereby setting off the alarm.

What is the 0.7 rule?

NFPA 72 requires that

all points on the ceiling have a detector within a distance of 0.7 times the listed spacing of the detector

. This ensures that when detection is used, the entire space on the ceiling is covered by detection. This requirement is commonly called the Point 7 (0.7) Rule.

When installing a fire detector What is the minimum distance?

NFPA 72 recommends that they should not be installed closer than

3 feet

from any supply air diffuser or return vent. If they are too close to the supply, smoke may not reach the detector.

When installing a fire detector What is the minimum distance you can put it from another material UK?


Flat Ceiling

It is recommended to position the alarm at least 300mm away from walls and light fittings/decorative objects (See fig 1.). This is because air does not circulate effectively in corners, and objects like light fittings can obstruct smoke and heat from entering the sensor chamber.

What power tools do astronauts use?


NASA PGT (Pistol Grip Tool)

The pistol-grip tool functions much in the same way a regular power drill does, with a battery that slots into the handle, only it has a large information screen where astronauts can change the speed and torque (between less than 1 and 38 foot-pounds, and between 5 and 60 rpm).

Are smoke detectors adjustable?

Can You Adjust the Sensitivity of a Smoke Detector?

Yes, you can adjust it on your own

. It will reduce pesky false alarms. You need to remove its data card from the smoke alarm.

What is a spinoff meaning?

countable noun. A spinoff is

an unexpected but useful or valuable result of an activity that was designed to achieve something else

. The company put out a report on commercial spinoffs from its research.

Is memory foam a NASA spinoff?

Today,

memory foam is one of NASA’s most widely used spinoffs

. The material turns up in everything from mattresses to wheelchairs to protective gear—and even bras.

Are invisible braces a space spinoff?

Over the years, NASA research has led to the development of many commercial products and services.

The products created with the help of NASA are referred to as ‘spinoffs’

. Examples of these spinoffs include infrared ear thermometers, scratch-resistant lenses and invisible braces. How were NASA involved?

Do astronauts have trouble walking when they return to Earth?


Astronauts and cosmonauts that live in space for six months to a year experience physical changes that have noticeable effects once they return to Earth’s gravity

, including changes to vision, balance, coordination, blood pressure, and the ability to walk, which impact their ability to perform basic tasks.

What are 5 NASA inventions?

  • Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. …
  • Temper Foam. …
  • GIPSY-OASIS. …
  • Enriched Baby Formula. …
  • Firefighter’s Portable Breathing Systems.

What technology did the space race give us?

Relevant examples include medical imaging techniques, durable healthcare equipment, artificial limbs, water filtration systems, solar panels, firefighting equipment, shock absorbers, air purifiers, home insulation, weather resistant airplanes, infrared thermometers, and countless other vital inventions.

Would a vape work in space?


Current vape pens would not work well in low gravity

. But who says they can’t be invented? Of course, you’d always have to be wearing a spacesuit or be inside a spaceship while you toke. If you actually tried to smoke out in space itself, well, you’d run out of oxygen and never get back down.

Do astronauts get paid?


Astronauts are paid according to the federal government’s General Schedule pay scale

, and they can fall on the GS-11 through GS-14 pay grades. The pay grade is based on an astronaut’s academic achievements and experience. The starting salary for GS-11 employees is $53,805.

Can fire burn in vacuum of space?


Fires can’t start in space itself because there is no oxygen – or indeed anything else – in a vacuum

. Yet inside the confines of spacecraft, and freed from gravity, flames behave in strange and beautiful ways. They burn at cooler temperatures, in unfamiliar shapes and are powered by unusual chemistry.

Can you burn a candle in space?


Candle flames behave differently in outer space (microgravity) than they do on earth

, primarily because microgravity provides an environment that lacks buoyant convection, which normally plays an important role in maintaining and shaping a flame on earth.

Can a candle burn in zero gravity?


A candle can burn in zero gravity

, but the flame is quite a bit different. Fire behaves differently in space and microgravity than on Earth.

Is there fire on the sun?


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.

When did smoke detectors become mandatory?

The Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) was passed by the NFPA in

1976

, and was the first document that stated “smoke alarms are required” to be in every home. By 1980, an estimated 50% of all homes in the U.S. reported having working alarms.

Why do smoke detectors not detect cigarettes?

Modern smoke detectors are more sensitive than older models because

smoking indoors is prohibited in most public buildings today

. Since cigarette smoke no longer swirls in the hallways, today’s detectors are designed with greater sensitivity so they can sense a developing fire as fast as possible.

How long have smoke detectors been around?

Modern Smoke Detectors and Fire Alarms

Duane Pearsall and Stanley Bennett Peterson created the first “modern” smoke detector in

1965

. The battery-powered smoke detector called the “SmokeGard 700,” was made of fire-resistant steel.

How close can a smoke detector be to a return air grille?

If the detector is installed directly in the airflow, airborne dust and dirt from the air diffuser could cause nuisance alarms. NFPA 72 recommends installing smoke detectors a minimum of

3 feet

from any air supply or return air grill. They may need to be installed farther away when air velocity is higher than normal.

Can you mount a smoke detector on a wall?

Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet (3 meters) from a cooking appliance to minimize false alarms when cooking.

Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings

(remember, smoke rises). Wall-mounted alarms should be installed not more than 12 inches away from the ceiling (to the top of the alarm).

How many smoke detectors do I need?

A smoke alarm on each floor in your home is a minimum. Aim to have

one in every room

so that fire will be discovered as early as possible. Install a smoke alarm in the: living room.

Should smoke detectors be on wall or ceiling?

Smoke alarms should be mounted in or near bedrooms and living areas,

either on the ceiling or the wall

. Ceiling mounting it is typically preferred as it allows the smoke alarm to be placed more centrally in the room.

How far can smoke detector be from bedroom door?

The locations for ceiling-mounted smoke detectors installed on a smooth ceiling for a single or double doorway must match the centerline of the doorway

no more than five feet from the door

and no closer than 12 inches to the doorway.

Where should smoke detectors be placed in living room?

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.