Flawless Photonics to Test Groundbreaking In-Space Glass Fabrication on ISS

Flawless Photonics to Test Groundbreaking In-Space Glass Fabrication on ISS
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 15, 2024

The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to revolutionize optical glass manufacturing, leveraging the unique conditions of space to overcome terrestrial limitations. Sponsored by the ISS National Lab, the latest experiments launched aboard Northrop Grumman's 20th Commercial Resupply Services mission (NG-20) aim to test a novel approach developed by Flawless Photonics, Inc., designed to eliminate gravity-induced defects in optical glass products made on Earth.

At the heart of this pioneering venture is the ambition to validate Flawless Photonics' method for manufacturing various glass materials in the microgravity environment of space, starting with ZBLAN. This type of optical glass, known for its potential to drastically outperform traditional silica in applications ranging from communications to laser technology, has been hindered by the constraints of Earth-based production processes.

The company's Chief Technology Officer, Michael Vestel, emphasized the significance of this endeavor, stating, "We have uncovered a new approach to manufacturing ZBLAN in space that promises to unlock its full capabilities and radically advance the optical fiber market."

The primary goal is to harness the microgravity conditions aboard the ISS to perfect the production of ZBLAN, thereby mitigating the defects that gravity induces in such materials on Earth. Flawless Photonics is not just aiming to enhance the quality of optical glass but to establish a new benchmark for fiber manufacturing processes, potentially revolutionizing optical communication technologies with substantial real-world benefits.

Hubert Moser, the senior director of engineering at Flawless Photonics' Luxembourg lab, highlighted the mission's crucial role in advancing the company's objectives. "This mission is a crucial milestone for Flawless Photonics. Its primary focus is deploying our cutting-edge autonomous manufacturing platform and establishing new paradigms in optical fiber technology and furthering in-space manufacturing," Moser explained.

The experiments conducted during the NG-20 mission are set to bring back optical fiber samples to Earth aboard SpaceX's 30th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission in April, while the Flawless Photonics manufacturing platform will remain on the ISS for future use. This initiative not only paves the way for advancements in telecommunications, defense, medical devices, and quantum computing but also underscores the ISS National Lab's commitment to fostering innovation through space-based research and development.

The NG-20 mission, which launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on January 30 at 12:07 pm EST aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carried more than 20 ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads. These experiments represent a diverse portfolio of research aimed at exploiting the unique environment of space to benefit life on Earth.