Optical fiber sensors for spacecraft: applications and challenges

Abstract

Optical fiber sensors offer a number of advantages for spacecraft applications, including freedom from electromagnetic interference, light weight, and low power consumption. One application is strain sensing, where high sensitivity and bandwidth and the ability to individually interrogate tens of multiplexed sensors via a single fiber lead has been demonstrated. This paper will describe 2 recent NRL uses of distributed strain sensing using arrays of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) on spacecraft parts, structures, and ground test hardware: distributed dynamic strain monitoring of a lightweight reflector during acoustic qualification tests and high-frequency, high-sensitivity strain measurements of a latch fixture. A second fiber sensor being seriously considered for spacecraft is the interferometric fiber optic gyroscope (IFOG). Although its performance in a benign environment is quite attractive, deployment of this and other optical fiber sensors requires addressing issues such as the deleterious effects of the space radiation environment. These challenges, unique to this application, will be discussed.