Overview of current capabilities and research and technology developments for planetary protection

The pace of scientific exploration of our solar system provides ever-increasing insights into potentially habitable environments, and associated concerns for their contamination by Earth organisms. Biological and organic-chemical contamination has been extensively considered by the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP) and has resulted in the internationally recognized regulations to which spacefaring nations adhere, and which have been in place for 40 years. The only successful Mars lander missions with system-level “sterilization” were the Viking landers in the 1970s. Since then different cleanliness requirements have been applied to spacecraft based on their destination, mission type, and scientific objectives. The Planetary Protection Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council has noted that a strategic Research & Technology Development (R&TD) roadmap would be very beneficial to encourage the timely availability of effective tools and methodologies to implement planetary protection requirements. New research avenues in planetary protection for ambitious future exploration missions can best be served by developing an over-arching program that integrates capability-driven developments with mission-driven implementation efforts. This paper analyzes the current status concerning microbial reduction and cleaning methods, recontamination control and bio-barriers, operational analysis methods, and addresses concepts for human exploration. Crosscutting research and support activities are discussed and a rationale for a Strategic Planetary Protection R&TD Roadmap is outlined. Such a roadmap for planetary protection provides a forum for strategic planning and will help to enable the next phases of solar system exploration.     

空间站水循环处理系统中微生物的检测技术

如何控制空间站水循环处理系统的微生物数量对于保证航天员的饮用水和生活用水十分重要。微生物数量超标会对航天员身体健康产生影响,某些硫酸盐还原菌也会附着在管道设备上并发生化学反应,产生的H₂S气体会腐蚀设备。控制水循环处理系统的微生物有地面控制、选用特殊材料和在轨杀菌共3个方面。2003年NASA给出了空间站中微生物控制的一系列要求。文章中提出了两种微生物检测方法:ATP生物发光法和比色固相萃取法测碘和银离子数量的方法,通过比较两者的优劣以及多方面的探究,最后,确定通过监测碘和银离子的数量来控制微生物数量更加方便有效。