High Power and High Reliability Fiber Optical Routing Switch

Photonwares Corporation proposes a new design to realize a 1x2 high power fiber optical switch. Our design incorporates several innovative features to achieve performance that is beyond state-of-the-art, meeting the requirements for NASA deep space long-range communication. The proposed fiber optical switch design also leverages our over 20 years of micro-optic development experience to achieve extended longevity over 20 years without power consumption as well as meeting compact size and low weight requirements for space applications. The design and fabrication process are compatible with and qualified for space applications. The phase I effort will result in a prototype demonstration that supports performance claims and a Phase II plan that formulates a pathway to a space qualification with planned flight experiments in Phase III.

This program addresses NASA's need to develop technologies for conducting future deep-space missions with extended communication range and flight time.

RF-photonics, free-space communications, and quantum communication systems including unhackable communications, instantaneous teleporting communications, connecting quantum computers together.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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