Measurement of Molecular Contamination for Satellites Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)

Quartz Crystal Microbalances (QCMs) have been used to measure the molecular contamination for satellites in vacuum bake-out tests at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Through measurement using QCMs, the mass and the mass deposition rate of molecular contamination could be traced in real-time. Vacuum bake-out tests were performed for the satellite KAISTAT-4 Flight Model and its components under various temperature conditions. During these tests, QCM measurement data was obtained and materials from the cold plate were analyzed using a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The characteristics of the QCM sensor were also observed.