Environmental microbiology as related to planetary quarantine Semiannual progress report, 1 Jun. - 30 Nov. 1969
Survival of bacterial spores under various temperature and humidity conditions related to planetary quarantine
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Survival of bacterial spores under various temperature and humidity conditions related to planetary quarantine
Techniques for planetary quarantine and bacterial spore inactivation
Spore and vegetative cell adenylate kinases of Bacillus subtilis proved indistinguishable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis DEAE cellulose chromatography
Computerized modeling of ultraviolet and thermal radiation inactivation of spores
Thermal inactivation curves of Bacillus subtilis spores for decontamination of interplanetary space vehicle components
Characteristics of bacterial spore population from Cape Kennedy soil
Problem of hardy soil spores in spacecraft sterilization of Planetary Quarantine Program
Spore release from solid materials by aeolian erosion on planetary surface
Evaluation equipment for terminal sterilization process on unmanned landers and determination of thermal inactivation curve of B. subtilis var. niger spores
Moisture effects on thermal inactivation of microbial spores for spacecraft sterilization
Effects of thermoradiation inactivation on Bacillus subtilis var. niger at various temperature, and natural spores in soil
Effects of dry heat and chemicals on long term survival rates of bacteria spores under varying temperatures and humidity conditions
Ethylene oxide and methyl bromide sporicidal activity compared for spacecraft sterilization of B. subtilis var niger spores
Spores released from solids interiors by aeolian erosion on planetary surface, noting application to microbes in planetary quarantine
Design, development, and applications of quartz crystal microbalance are discussed. Two types of crystals are used. One serves as reference and other senses changes in mass. Specific application to study of bacterial spores is described.
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.
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 solubility and/or swelling of cured epoxy resins was studied using the solubility parameter method. Determination of solubility parameters were found in order to select solvents for solvent-assisted degradation of cured epoxy polymers used in spacecraft. A method for improving recovery of seeded spores is suggested for assay of buried contaminants. Three commercial epoxy resins were cured using four different alkyl amines. For each resin-amine combination, three levels of amine were used, corresponding to 1/3, 2/3, and all of the amine required to react with the oxirane groups of the resin. The solubility parameters of the 36 resulting model compounds were determined in poorly and moderately hydrogen-bonded solvents. No strongly hydrogen-bonded solvents caused dissolution or swelling. The tolerance of cured resins is discussed in terms of polymer structure.