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A program is under way to develop a YAG laser based materials processing workstation to fly in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle. This workstation, called the Space Applications Industrial Laser System (SAILS), will be capable of brazing, cutting, welding, drilling, and surface treating various materials proposed for use on the Space Station Freedom, including steel, aluminum and inconel alloys planned for use in construction. As well as demonstrating the ability of a YAG laser to perform remote (fiberoptic delivered) repair and fabrication operations in space, fundamental data will be collected on these processes for comparison with terrestrial data and models.The flight system, scheduled to fly in late 1996, will be configured in three modules using standard Get- Away-Special (GAS) canisters. The first module holds the laser head and cooling system, the second contains a high peak power electrical supply, and the third module houses the materials processing workstation and the command and data acquisition subsystems. The laser head and workstation canisters are linked by a fiberoptic cable to transmit the laser light.The team assembled to carry out this project includes Lumonics Industrial Products Division (laser), Tennessee Technological University (structural analysis and fabrication), Auburn University Center for Space Power (power supply), University of Waterloo (low-g laser processing), and CSTAR/UTSI (data acquisition, control, software, integration and experiment design).This report describes the SAILS program, highlights recent accomplishments and projects the schedule for upcoming activities.A program is under way to develop a YAG laser based materials processing workstation to fly in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle. This workstation, called the Space Applications Industrial Laser System (SAILS), will be capable of brazing, cutting, welding, drilling, and surface treating various materials proposed for use on the Space Station Freedom, including steel, aluminum and inconel alloys planned for use in construction. As well as demonstrating the ability of a YAG laser to perform remote (fiberoptic delivered) repair and fabrication operations in space, fundamental data will be collected on these processes for comparison with terrestrial data and models.The flight system, scheduled to fly in late 1996, will be configured in three modules using standard Get- Away-Special (GAS) canisters. The first module holds the laser head and cooling system, the second contains a high peak power electrical supply, and the third module houses the materials processing workstation and the command and data acquisit... |
