1. A review of quartz crystal microbalances for space applications
- Author
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Andrea Longobardo, Diego Scaccabarozzi, Bortolino Saggin, Fabrizio Dirri, Ernesto Palomba, and Emiliano Zampetti
- Subjects
Molecular and particulate contamination ,Space Shuttle ,Space ,02 engineering and technology ,01 natural sciences ,Space exploration ,Coatings and Films ,Contamination monitoring ,Quartz crystal microbalance ,0103 physical sciences ,Electronic ,Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Aerospace engineering ,Instrumentation ,Sensor ,010302 applied physics ,Scientific instrument ,Satellite contamination ,business.industry ,Outgassing ,Metals and Alloys ,Spacecraft contamination ,Contamination ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Surfaces ,Sensori ,2506 ,QCM ,Environmental science ,Satellite ,0210 nano-technology ,business ,Space Transportation System ,Space environment - Abstract
The aim of this work is a technical review about Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensors used in space missions, i.e. Space Shuttle flights, i.e. NASA Space Transportation System (NASA STS) and satellite missions, that aimed at monitoring the contamination generated by outgassing processes of materials onboard satellites and sensitive payloads. The contamination processes are critical for scientific instrumentation (e.g. optics, telescopes, detectors) because scientific measurements and performances can be jeopardized or worsened by uncontrolled contamination. This issue has been addressed by the space agencies, e.g. NASA, ESA and JAXA that have implemented many different studies to monitor the material outgassing and degradation in space environment. During the past years, the QCM sensors have become the baseline solution for measuring material outgassing and characterizing the on-orbit contamination environment. This work summarizes the main QCM applications in Space and their findings, providing an overview of the sensors’ performances in terms of stability, power, data rate, measurement accuracy and resolution. Different QCM technologies will be compared highlighting the advantages of their use for the next space missions and instrumentations that require an accurate monitoring of contamination environment. In particular, due to more severe contamination requirements for next payloads and instrumentations, QCM sensors would be useful to estimate the cleanliness degree by evaluating the induced contamination and degradation on sensitive instrumentations.
- Published
- 2019