The photonics group in Code 562 at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center supports a variety of space flight programs at NASA including the: International Space Station (ISS), Shuttle Return to Flight Mission, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Express Logistics Carrier (ELC), and the NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging Program (NEPP). Through research, development, and testing of the photonic systems to support these missions much information has been gathered on practical implementations for space environments. Presented here are the highlights and lessons learned as a result of striving to satisfy the project requirements for high performance and reliable commercial optical fiber components for space flight systems. The approach of how to qualify optical fiber components for harsh environmental conditions, the physics of failure and development lessons learned will be discussed.

Date Published: 29 August 2006
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 6308, Photonics for Space Environments XI, 63080S (29 August 2006); doi: 10.1117/12.682259

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6308:
Photonics for Space Environments XI
Edward W. Taylor, Editor(s)