Abstract: A stowage system particularly for space applications comprises a flight bag (10), a backpack (66), a backpack adapter plate (96), and a pressurized stowage rack (104). The flight bag (10) is fabricated of a Kevlar/Nomex fabric, and its lid (18) includes an integral transparent panel (22) so that the contents of the bag may be readily identifiable without opening the bag. Beneath the lid (18) is a payload restraint net (24) which is removably attached to the interior liner of the bag to restrain small stowage items. The mesh comprising the net preferably includes one or more access slits (28) for accessing the interior of the case without removing the net and thereby risking loss of contents from the bag. The flight bag (10) also includes a plurality of hook and loop (VELCRO.RTM.) patches (30) about its periphery so that it may be collapsed upon itself for storage when not in use, and may additionally be rafted or trained to other flight bags if desired.

Abstract: Two or more overlapping fiber gratings are formed in a section of optical fiber to sense environmental effects that can vary the spacing between the lines of the grating to vary the center frequency of the spectral envelope, either reflected or passed thereby. The fiber gratings if properly oriented can respond to strain applied thereto in x, y, and z directions and temperature so that a three axis sensor can be formed at a short length of optical fiber and be calibrated for temperature. The multiple optical gratings are formed by sensitizing an optical fiber to light and then using two or more light interference patterns to form the gratings.