Supporting lunar water resource exploration with SIMS.
GENERAL SIMS SERVICE INC. CEONobutaka Inoue
Founded in 2022, after 18 years of experience as a field service engineer at a pioneering global company in SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry), with a career that spans both Japan and international markets. Primarily responsible for large double-focusing sector magnetic field mass spectrometries used in Earth and space sciences. Currently, the company is headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa, with a branch office in Sapporo, Hokkaido, where we are working on the development of next-generation mass spectrometries through joint research with Hokkaido University.
What is General SIMS Service Working On?
What is General SIMS Service Working On? We are focused on developing a lightweight, compact version of SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry). Traditional SIMS units are very large and weigh at least 1.5 tons. Since our goal is to deploy SIMS in space, the weight is a significant challenge. Currently, it is estimated that transporting 1 kg to the Moon costs around 1 billion yen. Therefore, sending a SIMS unit as it exists today would cost over 150 billion yen.
Why Take SIMS to the Moon?
Lunar development has become a frequent topic in the news, and the most crucial question is: Is there water on the Moon? If so, where is it located? In the past, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Rosetta spacecraft, which carried various scientific instruments, including the Double-Focusing Mass Spectrometry (DFMS) within ROSINA and the Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) within COSIMA. These instruments, which were sent on a mission to a comet, are closely related to the D-SIMS (Double-Focusing Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) that we are currently developing.
Why is SIMS Needed on the Moon?
Given the current uncertainty about whether water exists on the Moon and, if it does, where it might be located, the ability to detect hydrogen with high sensitivity is crucial. Simply put, it’s like searching for water in a desert. Another key factor is whether there is experience in analyzing extraterrestrial samples. We are conducting joint research with Hokkaido University, which has extensive experience in analyzing return samples. Recently, they have successfully analyzed samples from missions like Hayabusa, Hayabusa2, and OSIRIS-REx.
Why Did You Start My Own Business?
I started my business at the age of 52, making me somewhat of a late-blooming entrepreneur. Many years ago, when I was younger, I felt a strong urge to start my own company, but opposition from those around me made me reconsider. Looking back, I think it was the right decision, as I lacked the necessary experience at the time. After several decades of gaining knowledge and experience, I felt that the time was finally right, and that’s why I decided to take the plunge and start my own business.
What Challenges Are You Currently Facing?
One of the biggest challenges we face is a shortage of manpower. It's a common issue for startups - finding talented individuals can be quite difficult when your company is still building its reputation and track record.
How did you overcome this challenge?
We have expanded our network of partner companies, each contributing their expertise in specialized areas. Additionally, in April 2024, we established a group company, GS Analysis Co., Ltd.
What are your future business prospects?
Beyond just developing SIMS for lunar applications, we aim to expand the use of SIMS in fields that have not yet fully utilized its potential. One such area is the SCAPS system (Two-dimensional ion detector SCAPS (Stacked CMOS Active Pixel Sensor)), which we are currently advancing towards practical application in collaboration with Hokkaido University. By layering electrodes on the surface of a CMOS image sensor, commonly used in optical applications, we enable the direct detection of ions with this solid-state imaging device. We hope that by visualizing previously unseen phenomena, we can contribute to technological advancements and enrich society.
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