Abstract
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) requires that microorganisms which could contaminate the surface of the moon as the result of lunar missions be enumerated and identified so that life forms in lunar materials returned to earth may be more easily recognized as being of native or terrestrial origin.
Assessment of microbial contamination in the intramural environments used for the assembly and test of the manned lunar spacecraft (Apollo) was made using fallout strips and air samplers. Microbial contamination on the surfaces of Apollo Command and Lunar Modules was determined by use of the swab-rinse method.
Preliminary results indicate that the levels of microbial contamination which accumulated on exposed stainless steel surfaces, as well as airborne microbial contamination in the high bay assembly areas, were similar to those encountered in the unmanned spacecraft assembly areas. However, higher levels of microbial contamination were detected on the Apollo spacecraft than on the unmanned lunar spacecraft.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McDade, J. J., Irons, A. S., and Magistrale, V. I.: 1965a, ‘A Microbiological Survey of the Hughes Aircraft Company Facilities Involved in the Assembly and/or Testing of Surveyor Spacecraft’,Space Program Summary 3735, 4, Jet Propulsion Laboratories, Pasadena, Calif.
McDade, J. J., Paik, W., Christensen, M., Drummond, D., and Magistrale, V.: 1965b, ‘Microbiological Studies Conducted in the Experimental Assembly and Sterilization Laboratory’,Space Program Summary 4, 27–34, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: 1968, ‘NASA Standard Procedures for the Microbiological Examination of Space Hardware’, NHB 5340. 1A, October 1968 Edition.
Olson, R. L., Green, R. H., and Tritz, G. J.: 1968, ‘Progressive Biological Monitoring on Lunar Orbiters’, inDevelopments in Industrial Microbiology, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Washington, D.C., p. 99–104.
Portner, D. M., Hoffman, R. K., and Phillips, C. R.: 1965, ‘Microbial Control in Assembly Areas Needed for Spacecraft Sterilization’,Air Eng. 7, 46–49.
Puleo, J. R., Favero, M. S., and Tritz, G. J.: 1967a, ‘Feasibility of Using Ultrasonics for Removing Viable Microorganisms from Surfaces’,Contamination Control 6, 58–67.
Puelo, J. R., Favero, M. S., and Petersen, N. J.: 1967b, ‘Use of Ultrasonic Energy in Assessing Microbial Contamination on Surfaces’,Appl. Microbiol. 15, 1345–51.
Tritz, G. J., Fields, N. D., and Moore, B.: 1967, ‘Comparative Levels of Microbial Contamination in Clean Rooms Used for the Assembly and Test of Lunar Spacecraft’, inProc. Am. Assoc. for Contamination Control, American Association for Contamination Control, Boston, Mass., p. 149–52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Puleo, J.R., Fields, N.D., Moore, B. et al. Microbial contamination associated with the Apollo 6 spacecraft during final assembly and testing. Space Life Sciences 2, 48–56 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00928955
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00928955