Use of space to commercially produce ZBLAN optical fibers

Construction of the International Space Station Alpha (ISSA) will provide a platform not only for materials research but also a possible means to produce products in space which cannot be easily produced on the ground. Some products may even be superior to those now produced in 1g due to the lack of gravity induced convection effects. One such product is ZrF4‐BaF2‐LaF3‐AlF3‐NaF (ZBLAN) glass. At the present time this material is being produced on earth in fiber optic form for use in surgical lasers and fiber optic lasers. High attenuation coefficients, however, have kept this material from being used in other applications such as long haul data transmission links. The high attenuation is due to impurities which can be removed through improved processing techniques and crystals which can only be removed or prevented from forming by processing ZBLAN in a microgravity environment.