PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., 11 September 2006. Fitel's high-power pump laser technology logged its third NASA space mission with the launch of the Atlantis shuttle. FITEL's 1480nm laser is incorporated in the Neptec camera system used onboard the shuttle to scan critical areas for exterior damage.
The strength of the optical laser in the camera system enables the capture of exacting 3D data images of the shuttle's surface from up to four meters away and in harsh glare and intermittent lighting conditions.
The FITEL laser is manufactured by Furukawa Electric Co., a supplier of 1480nm pump laser diode modules for telecommunications applications. Neptec Design Group is the worldwide leader in space vision systems.
Following the Columbia shuttle tragedy in 2003, Neptec developed a laser camera system that includes the FITEL laser to meet NASA's new requirement for thorough exterior surface inspections on all shuttle missions. In addition to this Atlantis mission, the Neptec laser camera system was also utilized on NASA's Discovery missions in July 2005 and July 2006.
While the most common application for Furukawa's pump lasers are in telecommunications, data communications and CATV networks, Furukawa's pump and signal lasers are also used in a variety of precise military and commercial applications including light detection and ranging sensing systems (LIDAR), air pressure sensing systems, industrial fiber lasers, and test and measurement systems.
