Abstract
An important task related to the formulation of planetary quarantine standards is the achievement of an acceptable compromise between (1) the prevention of planetary contamination and (2) the impact of quarantine requirements on the conduct of planetary missions. Such a task is a continuing effort, which must take all pertinent new information into account as it becomes available. This paper provides an analytical framework for the assessment of data which have become available during the past year or which are currently being evolved. In particular an evaluation is made of the probability of release of viable organisms from the spacecraft as a function of: (1) impact velocity magnitudes and the probability of their occurrence; (2) the degree of equipment fracturing at impact velocities; and (3) the number of viable organisms in spacecraft materials. Work being done to quantify each of three types of contamination, i.e. that on open surfaces, mated surfaces and buried contamination, is described in the context of seeking an approach to spacecraft sterilization that would be most compatible with the implementation of planetary missions. It is concluded that the results of work now in progress on spacecraft-material fracturing, on the estimation of buried contamination loads, and on microbial resistance on mated surfaces, may lead to less severe dry-heat sterilization of planetary spacecraft than had been considered necessary in the past.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Angelotti, R.: 1967, ‘Protective Mechanisms Affecting Dry Heat Sterilization’. COSPAR Symposium on Sterilization Techniques, London, July.
Committee on Space Research: 1966, Paris. COSPAR Resolution 26.5.COSPAR Information Bull. 33. October.
National Aeronautics and Space Admin: 1966, A Note on COSPAR Resolution 26.5.NASA Position Paper, May.
Peterson, N. J., Cornell, R. G., andPuleo, J. R.: 1968, ‘Release of Microbial Contamination from Fractured Solids’,Space Life Sci. 1, 531.
Pflug, I. J.: 1967, ‘Dry Heat Sterilization: Rates of Destruction and Temperature Coefficients’. COSPAR Symposium on Sterilization Techniques, London, July.
Stern, J. A.: 1968, Personal Communication, April.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Work reported herein by Exotech Inc. authors has been supported under contract NASw-1558 with the NASA Office of Planetary Program and under contract NASw-1666 with the NASA Office of Biosciences.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schalkowsky, S., Hall, L.B. & Kline, R.C. Potential effects of recent findings on spacecraft sterilization requirements. Space Life Sciences 1, 520–530 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00924242
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00924242