Manufacturing Fiber Optics in Space

To demonstrate potential scientific and commercial merits of manufacturing optical fibers in space, NASA  is working with a company on an investigation headed to the International Space Station on the next Dragon cargo ship. Matthew Napoli of Made In Space explains how the 'Optical Fiber Production in Microgravity' investigation could lead to the production of materials with better properties, setting the stage for large-scale manufacturing of high-quality fiber in space.

Transcript

00:00:01 [ MUSIC ] >> WE'RE EXCITED AT MADE IN SPACE TO WORK WITH NASA AND CASIS TO USE THE ISS NATIONAL LAB. MADE IN SPACE FIBER OPTICS IS A PAYLOAD TO MANUFACTURE ZBLAN GLASS FIBER IN MICROGRAVITY. IT WILL PRODUCE HUNDREDS

00:00:22 OF METERS OF VERY, VERY HIGH END OPTICAL FIBER. MANUFACTURING FIBER IN MICROGRAVITY HAS BEEN THEORIZED TO INCREASE THE PERFORMANCE BY CREATING A BETTER PRODUCT-- A BETTER PRODUCT MEANING A CLEARER, MORE PURE GLASS. AND THAT IS DUE TO

00:00:42 THE MICROCRYSTAL FORMATION. IT MAKES THE GLASS A LITTLE CLOUDIER WHEN THE CRYSTALS FORM HERE ON EARTH, AND IN SPACE IT'LL BE MORE PURE AND CLEAR. IN A MICROGRAVITY, THEY FORM IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IN A MORE PURE WAY WITH FEWER DEFECTS.

00:00:56 WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS A 100 TIMES INCREASE IN PERFORMANCE. THIS IS A REALLY COOL PROJECT BECAUSE IT CAN BENEFIT EVERYONE HERE ON EARTH. FIBER OPTICS ARE USED FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS-- MEDICAL DEVICES, LASERS, BUT ALSO INTERNET.

00:01:12 AND THIS COULD REALLY HELP IMPROVE BANDWIDTH AND PERFORMANCE, AND LOWER THE COST OF INTERNET AND DATA CENTERS. SO REALLY, IT'S A PRODUCT THAT COULD AFFECT EVERYONE.