This month, a NASA astronaut installed the T-Paola experiment — “Thermovibrationally–Driven Particle Self-Assembly and Ordering mechanisms in Low gravity” — inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox of the International Space Station (ISS).
T-Paola is the final experiment of the Selectable Optic Diagnostics Instrument (SODI), an ESA facility for fluid science experiments. The entire optical assembly of SODI was developed and built by Lambda-X, in collaboration with Redwire Space Europe.
First launched in November 2009 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129), SODI has been operating continuously on the ISS for more than 13 years. Over this time, it has enabled experiments on more than 30 different fluids, providing unique insights into fluid behavior in microgravity.
The long-term performance of SODI is a testament to the reliability and durability of Lambda-X’s optics in extreme space environments. Even after more than a decade in orbit, the system continues to deliver precise results for the scientific community.
This milestone underlines Lambda-X’s enduring contribution to international space research and the value of high-performance optical systems in advancing science.