Enhanced Fabrication Improves Temperature Sensing in Cryogenic Humid Environments

A team of researchers at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center have developed a new manufacturing process that improves the ability of fiber optic sensing systems to measure temperature and liquid levels when operating in humid environments. The process involves eliminating moisture from the optical fiber coating, then completing the sensor assembly within humidity-controlled conditions. The resulting sensor hardware provides precise and accurate measurements even when operating in a humid environment. Originally designed to monitor a rocket’s cryogenic fuel levels in conjunction with NASA’s patented Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS), this technology can be used in many industrial, food, and medical applications.