In the absence of gravity, surface tension dominates over the behavior of liquids. While this often poses a challenge in adapting Earth-based technologies to space, it can also provide an opportunity for novel technologies that utilize its advantages. In particular, surface tension drives a liquid body to a constant-mean-curvature shape with extremely smooth surfaces, properties which are highly beneficial for optical components. We here present the design, implementation and analysis of parabolic flight experiments demonstrating the creation and in-situ measurement of optical lenses made entirely by shaping liquids in microgravity. We provide details of the two experimental systems designed to inject the precise amount of liquid within the short microgravity timeframe provided in a parabolic flight, while also measuring the resulting lens’ characteristics in real-time using both resolution target-imaging and Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing. We successfully created more than 20 liquid lenses during the flights. We also present video recordings of the process, from the lenses’ creation during microgravity and up until their collapse upon return to gravity. The work thus demonstrates the feasibility of creating and utilizing liquid-based optics in space.

在没有重力的情况下，表面张力主导液体的行为。虽然这通常会给地球技术应用于太空带来挑战，但它也可以为利用其优势的新技术提供机会。特别是，表面张力使液体形成具有极其光滑表面的恒定平均曲率形状，这些特性对光学元件非常有利。我们在此介绍抛物线飞行实验的设计、实现和分析，展示完全通过在微重力下塑造液体而制成的光学透镜的创建和现场测量。我们提供了两个实验系统的详细信息，这些系统旨在在抛物线飞行中提供的短微重力时间内注入精确数量的液体，同时还使用分辨率目标成像和夏克-哈特曼波前实时测量所得镜头的特性传感。我们在飞行过程中成功制作了 20 多个液体镜头。我们还展示了整个过程的视频记录，从微重力期间镜片的形成一直到它们返回重力时崩溃。因此，这项工作证明了在太空中创建和利用液基光学器件的可行性。