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Subject of the test was a procedure of electron sterilization of Mars descent module units. As a result, data on distribution of absorbed dose field across the surface and by the entire volume of the mockup of a miniature meteorological station (MMS) were obtained In addition, electron sterilization technology was developed and the range of absorbed dose from electron radiation that will sterilize reliably packaged MMS hardware were defined in the interval from 30 to 40 kGy.

Purpose of the investigation was to develop a technique of irradiation sterilization of batch syringes with concentrated salt solutions (CaCl2 solution and a mixed solution of MgSO4, NaHCO3 and K2SO4). The syringes are used for mineralization of water produced by orbital systems of electrochemical regeneration of air humidity condensate, and deionized or distilled water from other sources. The paper describes composition of resultant potable water and analyzes quality of irradiation sterilization and stability of concentrated salts inside the syringes irradiated on gamma-source RTs-100M.

Modeling experiments were performed to evaluate bactericide and fungicide effects of small ozone concentrations (0.3 mg/l of water and 47 mg/m3 of air) that can be generated onboard spacecraft following one hour after treatment. Over the period of treatment, reduction in aquatic microorganisms made up, depending on biotest in use, hundred and more times; concentration of atmospheric microorganisms showed a 5- to 10-fold reduction. The demonstrated effectiveness of ozone shows that it may advantage sterilization and cleaning from microorganisms a number of life support systems aboard manned space vehicles and stations.

An experiment was performed to study the biocide effect of ultraviolet treatment of simulated space station milieu. UV generated by low and moderately power-intensive sources (from 10 W to 1 kW) showed a good promise for decontaminating, within the reach, solid structural materials, and the air and water in the cabin. For instance, within 10 minutes of the UV-treatment aerial bacteria in 20 m3 were reduced in 12 to 30 times while fungal microflora was fully suppressed. Water containing spores and vegetative cells of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms became essentially sterile after 4 to 10 minutes of treatment with low UV (in the order of 0.01 W/cm2). Different UV modalities can lay the basis for development of specific technologies of microbial decontamination of various spacecraft.