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Kicking Glass

  • Erin Lear Loughan
  • Mar 31
  • 1 min read

Updated: Apr 1



Flawless Photonics Reaches Milestone in Space Manufacturing

Astronauts Loral O'Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli (from left) are pictured in front of the Microgravity Science Glovebox, a research facility for conducting biology and physics experiments in the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. Moghbeli installed Flawless Photonics' machine for drawing optical fiber in space in the Microgravity Science Glovebox.
Astronauts Loral O'Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli (from left) are pictured in front of the Microgravity Science Glovebox, a research facility for conducting biology and physics experiments in the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. Moghbeli installed Flawless Photonics' machine for drawing optical fiber in space in the Microgravity Science Glovebox.

Silicon Valley startup Flawless Photonics has achieved a breakthrough in in-space manufacturing by producing over 5 kilometers of ZBLAN on the International Space Station (ISS) within two weeks. This accomplishment has caught the attention of the aerospace community, with experts acknowledging its distinctiveness.

NASA's Acknowledgment

Lynn Harper, strategy lead for NASA ISS In-Space Production Applications, emphasized the importance of Flawless Photonics' achievement, stating, “They have successfully manufactured commercial lots of ZBLAN in space. They’ve done it repeatedly.” This acknowledgment highlights the potential of in-space manufacturing and its impact on future technologies.

Understanding ZBLAN

ZBLAN is a type of fluoride glass renowned for its low loss and high transmission properties, making it valuable for various applications, including telecommunications and medical devices. The ability to produce ZBLAN in space opens new opportunities for research and development in materials science.



 
 
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