Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) flight measurements of contamination on the MSX satellite

Bob E. Wood; David F. Hall; Jeffrey C. Lesho; James S. Dyer; O. Manuel Uy; William T. Bertrand

doi:10.1117/12.258309

11 November 1996 Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) flight measurements of contamination on the MSX satellite

Bob E. Wood, David F. Hall, Jeffrey C. Lesho, James S. Dyer, O. Manuel Uy, William T. Bertrand

Proceedings Volume 2864, Optical System Contamination V, and Stray Light and System Optimization; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.258309
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

The midcourse space experiment (MSX) satellite was launched into a 903 Km, 99.4-deg orbit April 24, 1996. It carries imaging spectrometers and radiometers that operate in the UV, visible, and infrared spectral ranges. In addition, it carries several contamination measuring instruments that are being used to characterize the contamination environment on, in, and around the satellite. Five are quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs), four of which are temperature- controlled (TQCMs). They are located on various external surfaces of the spacecraft and are operating at minus 40 degrees Celsius to minus 50 degrees Celsius to measure the condensation of silicone and organic molecules. One is a cryogenic quartz crystal microbalance (CQCM) which is located adjacent to the SPIRIT III infrared cryogenic telescope primary mirror. Its temperature followed the mirror which cooled from 28 to 20 K during the first week of operation. All QCMs recorded deposition in the 10 - 20 ng/cm$2)-day (1-2 angstrom/day) range. Thermo-gravimetric analyses on the QCMs provided insight into the amount and species of contaminants condensed. Data from the QCMs and other instruments in the contamination experiment (CE) suite played an important role in determining when it was safe to open covers on some of the optical instruments.

Citation Download Citation

Bob E. Wood, David F. Hall, Jeffrey C. Lesho, James S. Dyer, O. Manuel Uy, and William T. Bertrand "Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) flight measurements of contamination on the MSX satellite", Proc. SPIE 2864, Optical System Contamination V, and Stray Light and System Optimization, (11 November 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.258309

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