First commercial-grade optical fibres fabricated in space
Special glass rods manufactured at the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø have been drawn into over eight km of optical fibre on the International Space Station (ISS).Ìý
Microgravity glove box at the Flawless Photonics facility prior to being shipped to NASA’s facility. The fibre was drawn in the glove box on the ISS. Image: Flawless Photonics.
This major landmark in the development of the next generation of optical fibres for quantum communication is part of a strategic partnership between the University’s Institute for Advanced Photonics (IPAS) and Commercial Partner Flawless Photonics Inc.Ìý
Australian Research Council, Industry Laureate Fellow, Professor Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Deputy Director, IPAS and her ANFF-OptofabÌýteam provided 20 special glass rods of ZBLAN, an exotic glass for ultra-low loss optical fibre. Flawless Photonics developed and built a miniature drawing tower for manufacturing optical fibre in space. This was sent into orbit on board a SpaceX rocket in Florida on 31 January and is current