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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.

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.

A piece of electrical wiring bundle running from the television camera to another part of the spacecraft was selected for microbiological examination. Sampling methods are discussed. The results presented show that no viable microorganisms were recovered from the part of the Surveyor 3 cable which was tested. Factors that could have contributed to the sterility of the cable are thermal vacuum testing, natural dieoff, change in pressure during launch, and lunar vacuum and temperature.

Microbiological contamination of Apollo spacecraft components

Research in microbiology for planetary quarantine

Description of spacecraft microbial contamination and techniques for reducing level of contamination

Bacterial spore distribution and dry heat resistance on Mariner-Mars 1969 spacecraft, using randomly selected aerobic mesophilic isolates

Review of the procedures used in the microbiological examination of space hardware. The general procedure for enumerating aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms and spores is outlined. Culture media and temperature-time cycles used for incubation are reviewed, along with assay systems designed for the enumeration of aerobic and anaerobic spores. The special problems which are discussed are involved in the precise and accurate enumeration of microorganisms on surfaces and in the neutralization of viable organisms buried inside solid materials that could be released to a planet's surface if the solid should be fractured. Special attention is given to sampling procedures including also the indirect techniques of surface assays of space hardware such as those using detachable or fallout strips. Some data on comparative levels of microbial contamination on lunar and planetary spacecraft are presented.

Characteristics of bacterial spore population from Cape Kennedy soil

Quantitative analysis of microorganisms found on Apollo spacecraft

Spacecraft microbial contamination measurements

Frequency determination of D sub 125C values for spores isolated from spacecraft

Heat shock effects on bacterial spore recovery and Apollo 9, 10, and 11 microbial contamination data

Evaluation of vacuum probe for sampling dust and microbiological surface contamination

Techniques and instrumentation for Apollo spacecraft sterilization and microbial bioassays

Microbiological studies of spore release, vacuum probe sampling, effectiveness of ultrasonic baths, dry heat inactivation, and Surveyor 7 and Apollo spacecraft contamination

Microbiological surface sampling methods, noting role in detecting contamination on eating utensils, blankets, sheets, etc

Laminar air flow cabinets for controlling microbial contamination in tissue cultures preparation

Microorganism removal from contaminated surfaces by ultrasonics for subsequent enumeration

Ultrasonic energy assaying of microorganisms contaminating Voyager project planetary probes

Solidification process for recovering viable microorganisms to aid spacecraft sterilization procedures

Clean room environment for controlling microbial contamination in spacecraft sterilization program

Comparative levels and types of microbial contamination defected in industrial clean rooms

Death rates of microorganisms deposited on surfaces of stainless steel and electronic components by handling and aerial fallout - Decontamination techniques

The project to evaluate thermal sterilization for unmanned landers is reported. A temperature controlled oven with a nitrogen gas supply containing a known concentration of water is discussed. The studies show that bacillus lentus, bacillus brevis, bacillus coagulans, atypical bacillus spp., and actinomycete are isolated heat survivors. The thermal resistance is given for naturally occurring airborne bacterial spores collected on exposed teflon ribbons.

The microbiological studies of the Apollo 17 command module pre- and postflight samples are reported. A total of 20 types of microorganisms were identified on preflight and 14 on postflight samples. Changes in biochemical character due to subculture and storage of Bacillus isolates are also reported.

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.

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.

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.