Service - Universal Glass Optics Manufacturing Module
- Classification
- In-Space Manufacturing
- Category
- In-Space Manufacturing
ISS Utilization Service
- Fields
- ZBLAN
Optical Fibers
Glass
- Status
- 3) Development
- First launch
- ?
One of their key innovations is a custom Laser Doppler Sensor for real-time in-situ analysis and feedback control of the manufacturing process. Additionally, this technology is Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted to be adaptive to optimize production in a low-Earth orbit environment.
The microgravity environment of space is needed because convection and sedimentation in development on Earth causes separation of complex glass elements creating crystallization, thus creating defects which reduce performance. Market areas for products from this module include specialty fibers for communications, medical diagnostics, remote sensing, X-ray optics, and laser processing.
Sources
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