Microgravity Fiber-Pulling Apparatus

A method to process optical fiber composed of glass systems has been developed in support of the space shuttle and Space Station programs. This process, known as the Microgravity Fiber-Pulling Apparatus, was designed to operate in a microgravity environment. It has the unique capability to produce heavy-metal glasses through the reduction of nucleation and allows low viscosity to be handled more easily. Optical fibers, such as the heavy-metal fluoride glasses, are usually very difficult to process in ground-based operations because the glass has inherent characteristics such as low viscosity, a narrow working range, and a tendency to form crystallites during processing.