Chinese Astronauts Conduct Risky Open-Flame Experiment on Tiangong Space Station

Chinese astronauts conducted an experiment involving open flames aboard the Tiangong space station, lighting a candle during a live lecture to demonstrate how flames burn in microgravity. The flames appeared nearly spherical, unlike the teardrop-shaped flames on Earth due to the weak combustion convection current in the microgravity environment. The astronauts interacted with students, showcasing various microgravity phenomena. While the experiment would surprise International Space Station participants due to strict rules on flammable materials and open flames, combustion in microgravity has been the subject of numerous experiments on the ISS.