3 ms·
Somewhat ironically the best optical fibres are made in space, ZBLAN. https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/NASA_Supported_Optical_Fi
by zeristor 3y ago
Somewhat ironically the best optical fibres are made in space, ZBLAN.
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunities/NASA_Supported_Optical_Fiber_Manufacturing_Arrives_at_Space_Station https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/flightopportunit...
I guess the have better optical clarity and so need less repeaters to span the oceans.
- londons_explore 3y agoThe real question is if these fibers are sufficiently better to be worth making an industrial scale fiber factory in space...
- wolfram74 3y agoApparently some test plants have been on station since 2022[0], I interpret the report to be they are still working on ways to get it to operate meaningfully with sufficiently little babysitting. [0]https://www.factoriesinspace.com/zblan-and-exotic-fibers https://www.factoriesinspace.com/zblan-and-exotic-fibers
- londons_explore 3y agoThing is, If they want to manufacture tens of thousands of kilometers of fiberoptic, they're probably gonna need something at a scale bigger than can be done on the ISS. Which in turn means they will need to launch their own manufacturing spacecraft which is fully autonomous.