SIGMA Corporation (CEO: Kazuto Yamaki) is pleased to announce that the SIGMA WR Ceramic Protector, a protective filter utilizing the ultra-hard and shock-resistant properties of “Clear Glass Ceramics”, has been selected as the camera protector for the microsatellite “KITSUNE”. This unique microsatellite has been manufactured by a consortium (the “HAK Consortium”) consisting of three companies: Harada Seiki Kogyo Inc. (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan), Addnics Corporation (Hachioji City, Tokyo, Japan), and Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan).

What is the microsatellite “KITSUNE”?
The microsatellite “KITSUNE”, which will be used for the microsatellite release project from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station (ISS), was launched on February 20th, 2022, by an Antares launch vehicle from the United States and is currently awaiting its release into space on the “Kibo” (scheduled at the end of March 2022).

Adopted as a camera protector with its high shock resistance performance
Since the International Space Station (ISS) handles satellites in a zero-gravity environment, it is essential to minimize any risk of glass shattering onboard if it comes into contact with valuable equipment. The extremely high impact resistance of the SIGMA WR Ceramic Protector has been highly evaluated, and after many rigorous tests, it has been adopted as the camera protector for the satellite.

Contributing to Technological Advancement in Imaging and Science
After release, the satellite’s altitude will be controlled and photographs will be taken from 400 km above the ground via a camera equipped with the protector. We will continue to contribute to the advancement of imaging and scientific technology through space photography using the SIGMA WR Ceramic Protector.

About the SIGMA WR Ceramic Protector
The SIGMA WRCeramic Protector is a highly reliable filter that is the first to utilize the “NANOCERAM™”― an extremely hard and impact-resistant crystallized glass, newly developed by glass material manufacturer OHARA Corporationー as “Clear Glass Ceramics” based on SIGMA’s own developing standards. With many applications in aerospace and other industries, glass ceramics is an extremely strong type of crystallized glass that serves as the foundation for Clear Glass Ceramics. While featuring the high transmittance required of optical devices, this advanced new material combines greater hardness than chemically strengthened glass and greater flexibility than sapphire crystal glass. These qualities make Clear Glass Ceramics the “genuine protector” that possesses the finest properties for a protective filter.

More about the SIGMA WR CERAMIC PROTECTOR

Concept Movie

Related video message:
“An update about our sensor development project” by Kazuto Yamaki (CEO, SIGMA)

Development status of the full-frame Foveon sensor camera (2020/2/8)