A METHODOLOGY TO SELECT A WIRE INSULATION FOR USE IN HABITABLE SPACECRAFT

This paper investigates electrical overheating events aboard a habitab le spacecraft. The wire insulation involved in these failures plays a major role in the entire event scenario from threat development to det ection and damage assessment. Ideally, if models of wire overheating e vents in microgravity existed, the various wire insulations under cons ideration could be quantitatively compared. However, these models do n ot exist. In this paper, a methodology is developed that can be used t o select a wire insulation that is best suited for use in a habitable spacecraft. The results of this study show that, based upon the Analyt ic Hierarchy Process and simplifying assumptions, the criteria selecte d, and data used in the analysis, Tefzel is better than Teflon for use in a habitable spacecraft.