The light microscopy module: an autonomous, multifunction, space-borne microscope

Author

Resnick, A. ; Eustace, J.

Author_Institution

Fed. Data Corp., Brook Park, OH, USA

fYear

2001

fDate

11-11 May 2001

Firstpage

287

Lastpage

288

Abstract

Summary form only given. A microscope has been developed for use on the International Space Station (ISS) to perform materials research in a microgravity environment. Constraints on astronaut crew time allotted to various experiments on the ISS forces the microscope to operate autonomously. Currently, the microscope offers the following imaging techniques: brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast, and differential interference contrast. In addition, spectrophotometry interferometry, confocal microscopy, and laser tweezers capabilities are being added to the microscope. KC-135 reduced gravity flight tests have been performed on a few critical subsystems.

Keywords

optical microscopes; space vehicles; zero gravity experiments; International Space Station; KC-135 reduced gravity flight tests; astronaut crew time; autonomous multifunction space-borne microscope; brightfield imaging; confocal microscopy; critical subsystems; darkfield imaging; differential interference contrast; imaging techniques; interferometry; laser tweezers capabilities; light microscopy module; materials research; microgravity environment; phase contrast; reduced gravity flight tests; spectrophotometry; Bandwidth; Glass; Laser excitation; Microscopy; Optical amplifiers; Optical pulse generation; Optical pulses; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse compression methods; Pump lasers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2001. CLEO '01. Technical Digest. Summaries of papers presented at the Conference on

Conference_Location

Baltimore, MD, USA

Print_ISBN

1-55752-662-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CLEO.2001.947812

Filename

947812