Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, October - December 1970
Characteristics of bacterial spore population from Cape Kennedy soil
Favero, M. S.↗
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Planetary quarantine program Quarterly progress report, 30 Sep. 1970
Thermoradiation studies on microorganisms for spacecraft sterilization
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Planetary quarantine program Quarterly progress report, period ending 31 Dec. 1970
Bacterial thermoradiation sterilization models and computerized bioassay system for Apollo biological data
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Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Quarterly report, Jan. - Mar. 1971
Description of spacecraft microbial contamination and techniques for reducing level of contamination
Favero, M. S.↗
Planetary quarantine program
Effects of thermoradiation inactivation on Bacillus subtilis var. niger at various temperature, and natural spores in soil
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Environmental microbiology as related to planetary quarantine
Effects of dry heat and chemicals on long term survival rates of bacteria spores under varying temperatures and humidity conditions
Pflug, I. J.↗
Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements
Microbiological contamination of Apollo spacecraft components
Favero, M. S.↗
Mariner Mars 1971 post-launch analysis of compliance with planetary quarantine requirements
Analysis of probable viable terrestrial microorganisms on Mars caused by Mariner Mars 1971 Project
Hoffman, A. R.↗
Planetary quarantine program
A quantitative means was developed to investigate the sensitivity of current spacecraft sterilization plans to variations in D-values. A quantitative expression was derived to represent the distribution of D-values among a population of naturally occurring organisms. An investigation was made of (1) the inactivation of both Bacillus subtilis var. niger spores and Cape Kennedy soil spores by gamma-radiation at room temperature in a nitrogen environment, and (2) the thermoradiation resistance of Cape Kennedy soil spores at elevated temperatures below 125 C. The relation between standard survival experiments with bacterial spores in soils and results obtained on spacecraft surfaces is discussed. Sporocidal properties of aqueous formaldehyde can be increased by elevating the temperature.
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Environmental microbiology as related to planetary quarantine
The experiments carried out to determine the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the survival rate of Bacillus subtillis var. niger spores are reported. The experiments were conducted in environmental chambers at temperatures of 75 and 90 C. Data are also included on the survival characteristics of the spores suspended in sucrose solutions at 90 C with water activities of 0.99, 0.9, and 0.85
Pflug, I. J.↗
Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The efficiency of a biodetection grinder, used to recover buried contamination, was tested using spacecraft components and laminated polystyrene strips containing Bacillus subtilis var. niger spores. The surfaces were decontaminated before tests. Results are given in tabular form. Tables are also given for heat resistance of bacteria spores, prevalence of bacteria in spacecraft before launch, and the types of bacteria found in Apollo 15 spacecraft components and command modules.
Favero, M. S.↗
Planetary quarantine
Methods for presterilization cleaning or decontamination of spacecraft hardware to reduce microbial load, without harming materials or spacecraft components, are investigated. Three methods were considered: (1) chemicals in liquid form, relying on physical removal as well as bacterial or bacteriostatic action; (2) chemicals used in the gaseous phase, relying on bacterial activity; and (3) mechanical cleaning relying on physical removal of organisms. These methods were evaluated in terms of their effectiveness in microbial burden reduction and compatibility with spacecraft hardware. Results show chemical methods were effective against spore microorganisms but were harmful to spacecraft materials. Mechanical methods were also effective with the degree depending upon the type of instrument employed. Mechanical methods caused problems in handling the equipment, due to vacuum pressure damaging the very thin layered materials used for shielding, and the bristles used in the process caused streaks or abrasions on some spacecraft components.
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Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements
Results are presented of laboratory experiments conducted on the thermal resistance of naturally occurring airborne spores and microbiological examinations of space hardware using long-term slit samplers and rodac plate and swab-rinse methods of sampling environmental surfaces.
Favero, M. S.↗
Environmental microbiology as related to planetary quarantine
The results of studies to determine the effect of soil particle size on the survival time at 125 C of the microflora associated with these particles are discussed. The data suggest that longer survival times exist for the microflora associated with larger particles. The studies indicate that microorganisms associated with soil are difficult to kill and that organisms associated with large particles are harder to kill than those associated with small particles. Sterlization requirements increase as the level of contamination increases. Soil particles and their accompanying microflora are the most critical contaminants.
Iflug, I. J.↗
Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements
Tests were conducted to determine the dry heat resistance at 125 C of a naturally occurring bacterial spore population in a mixture of sieved vacuum cleaner dusts from Cape Kennedy. The dust was aerosolized in a special chamber and was allowed to settle on 32 Teflon ribbons to provide approximately 500,000 spores per ribbon.
Favero, M. S.↗
Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The evaluation is discussed of the terminal sterilization process for unmanned lander spacecraft. Results of biochemical test deviations encountered with the identification schemes are tabulated. Studies to examine the possibility of shifts in biochemical reaction patterns during storage and subculture of the environmental Bacillius isolates are also reported.
Favero, M. S.↗
Planetary quarantine
Developed methodologies and procedures for the reduction of microbial burden on an assembled spacecraft at the time of encapsulation or terminal sterilization are reported. This technology is required for reducing excessive microbial burden on spacecraft components for the purposes of either decreasing planetary contamination probabilities for an orbiter or minimizing the duration of a sterilization process for a lander.
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Services provided in support of the planetary quarantine requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Heat studies with the highly resistant bacterial spore isolated from Cape Kennedy soil were continued, and the D130C was determined. The interior surfaces of the command module of the Apollo 17 spacecraft were studied for microbial contamination during assembly and testing. The thermal resistance of naturally occurring airborne bacterial spores was determined, using the heating times of 2, 4, 6, and 8 hr. at 125 C. The evaluation of a terminal sterilization process for unmanned lander spacecraft is also continuing.
Favero, M. S.↗