Analysis of observed contamination through SAGE III's first year on orbit

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III) is an external payload on the International Space Station (ISS) that measures vertical profiles of ozone and other atmospheric constituents through the use of a moderate resolution spectrometer with an operating wavelength range of 290 nm to 1550 nm utilizing the method of occultation. Because of the contamination sensitivity [particularly to silicate contamination] of the payload, a suite of eight Thermoelectric Quartz Crystal Microbalances (TQCMs) were included to monitor the operating environment. During the first year of operation, the SAGE III/ISS TQCMs were instrumental in detecting several periods of relatively high contamination and identifying the sources. A transparent window made of quartz crystal covers the instrument assembly's aperture. The contamination window may open during science acquisition under nominal operating conditions. However, if the contamination sensors measure mass adsorption rates significantly elevated above the background level, the window may be commanded to remain closed during science to protect the contamination sensitive scan mirror and telescope. An analysis of the spectral transmission through the window for the wavelength range of 290 nm to 1550 nm has been conducted to determine any possible degradation of the window transmission and potential effects on science data collected to date, and establish a baseline for future analysis.