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Wouldn't burning candles consume oxygen rather than produce it?

• spywaregorilla 4y ago
  Not normal candles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_generator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_generator
  • ceejayoz 4y ago
    "On the International Space Station, chemical oxygen generators are used as a backup supply. Each canister can produce enough oxygen for one crewmember for one day." That's a lot of candles if you intend to use it as the primary supply for a multi-year multi-human mission like Mars will entail. "An explosion caused by one of these candles killed two Royal Navy sailors on HMS Tireless" probably gives NASA engineers the shivers, too.
    • extrapickles 4y ago
      They have also been the cause of fire[0] on the Mir space station. They make for a reasonable emergency oxygen supply (no working infrastructure required), but you don't want to use them regularly due to the fire risk they represent. [0]: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/25-years-ago-fire-aboard-space-station-mir https://www.nasa.gov/feature/25-years-ago-fire-aboard-space-...