From Earth to Space
Expanding into QCM Flight Model Development

The QCM that has been used as a sensor for material evaluation on Earth. Its technology is now expanding into space. To address orbital contaminant which becomes a serious challenge in expanding space utilization, NDK is collaborating with JAXA to advance the development of a flight model for a domestically produced QCM.

Expanding Space Utilization and Reliability Needs

From satellite communications and Earth observation to space telescopes, and even space services and tourism, space utilization is accelerating in both diversification and commercialization.
Amid this expansion, a common requirement is for spacecraft to maintain stable performance over extended periods.
Ensuring reliability has become an essential element for the sustainable growth of the space business.

The Challenge of In-Orbit Contamination

Contamination represents one of the major risks faced by spacecraft.

Outgas from materials condenses in cold regions, adhering to optical systems and sensor surfaces.
Even minimal deposits can degrade the performance of highly sensitive observation instruments.
Long-term operation carries the risk of failures due to changes over time.

While countermeasures have primarily focused on ground testing and the design phase, understanding what actually occurs in orbit is becoming an increasingly critical theme.

Role of QCM
- Visualizing Invisible Contamination

By quantifying invisible contamination occurring in orbit, it enables maintaining equipment performance and optimizing operations.

Quantifying Invisible Contamination

Measuring minute mass changes in real time

Functionality in Space Environments

Operates under harsh conditions like vacuum, temperature fluctuations, and radiation

Foundation for Risk Management

Can be utilized for equipment maintenance, performance upkeep, and design improvements

"JAXA and NDK"
Co-creation Project

Against this backdrop, JAXA and our company are collaborating on the "Space OCM Sensor Innovation New Business" initiative under JAXA's co-creation R&D program "J-SPARC."

Making Japanese QCM sensor to the world standard

NDK

Development of Twin-QCM for flight and customer acquisition

Design tailored for rocket launch environments and orbital conditions
Conducting reliability assessments
Implementation of additional storage functionality to address limited communication environments in orbit
New market research and customer development for space applications

JAXA

Development support and exploration of new applications

Exploration of new QCM applications for space beyond contamination measurement
Initiatives aimed at establishing measurement technology
Investigation and consideration of demonstration platforms to secure in-orbit verification opportunities
Development of new applications with an eye toward future exploration utilization

JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership
and Co-creation (J-SPARC)

Through this co-creation, we aim to introduce domestic reliability and new possibilities to space-use QCM sensors, which have primarily been foreign-made.
Furthermore, anticipating future space exploration applications, we seek to pioneer new uses beyond conventional outgas measurement.

The QCM technology cultivated on Earth is now beginning its expansion into space.
Contamination monitoring in orbit is the foundation of reliability in the space business, and QCM plays a central role in this.
NDK will continue to challenge new stages, "from Earth to space," through its vertically integrated production of QCMs.