Wide temperature range fiber optic cable: Cable design study

Abstract

Factors considered in the design and fabrication of a single fiber optic cable intended for spacecraft applications in an environment of temperature extremes from -160 C to 125 C include: abrasion resistance, low temperature flexibility, small size, low weight, and overall temperature stability. Specific requirements were identified for fiber core and overall diameters, fiber loss and NA, and cable tensile load. The single fiber cable will be fabricated by using a chemical vapor step index fiber of .125 mm coated to .3 mm with RTV silicone and then extruded with a jacket of Teflon PFA to a diameter of .5 mm. Six yarns of 1420 denier unimpregnated Kevlar 49 with a helical lay of 1.3 inches will surround the jacketed fiber under an extrusion of PFA. The finished cable diameter will measure 1.8 mm, and the weight of one kilometer length will be approximately 4350grams.