Planetary Protection - Planetary protection aims to preserve the biological and organic conditions of the solar system bodies for future exploration and at the same time protect the Earth from potential extraterrestrial contamination. Planetary protection requirements for each mission are based on the types of encounter it will have (flyby, orbiter, or lander) and the potential of the mission's destination to provide insight into the origin of life. To implement planetary protection requirements, we need to advance current technologies to satisfy planetary protection requirements for surface, subsurface and atmospheric missions as well as those technologies that allow sample acquisition for in situ life detection or sample return. These technologies include cross-contamination risk assessment and prevention; pre-launch bioburden reduction and validation; heating of orbital debris during atmospheric entry at Mars; and sample return issues including containment, handling and sample analysis.

Point of Contact: Ying Lin

Task Title

A Rapid Single Endospore Enumeration (RapidSEE) Assay for Validation of Bioburden Reduction

Cleaning to Achieve Sterility: An Evaluation of State-of-the-Art Cleaning Techniques with Regard to Removal of Particles of Biological Origin

Contained Sample Handling & Analysis System (CSHAS)

Development of Bio-barrier Technology

Mars Orbital Debris Analysis Code (MOrDAC)

Near Field and Integrated Particle Transport Models for Planetary Protection and Their Experimental Validation

Spore Adhesion for Contamination Transport Models

Publications

A new method for the enumeration of airborne spore-forming bacteria associated with particles    NTR 41546, 2005    Authors: Lin, Y. and J. Barengoltz

A Rapid Micro-Detection System for the Enumeration of Bacterial Endospores    Proc. 2006 IEEE Aerospace Conf. 2006. Big Sky, Montana: IEEE CS Press    Authors: Chen, F., et al.

A Rapid Single Spore Enumeration Assay    Proc. 2006 IEEE Aerospace Conf. 2006. Big Sky, Montana: IEEE CS Press    Authors: Yung, P.T., M.J. Kempf, and A. Ponce

Bio-Barriers: An Answer to Solving Forward Contamination and Protecting Instrument Measurements for Planetary Astrobiology Missions    Wayne Zimmerman, Yuki Salinas, 2007 IEEE Aerospace Conference    Author: Wayne Zimmerman, Yuki Salinas

Bio-Barriers: An Answer to Solving Forward Contamination, and Protecting Instrument Measurements for Planetary Astrobiology Missions    IEEEAC paper #1216, Version 1, December 10, 2006    Authors: Salinas, Y.; Zimmerman, W.; Kulczycki, E.; Chung, S.; Cholakian, T.

CCU Feasibility Assessment Document    2005, Report by Payload Systems, Inc.    Author: Parrish, J.

Cleaning to Achieve Sterility    Proc. 2006 IEEE Aerospace Conf. 2006. Big Sky, Montana: IEEE CS Press    Authors: Kern, R., et al.

CSHAS Functional Requirements Document    2005, Report by Payload Systems, Inc.    Author: Parrish, J.

Mars Technology Program Planetary Protection Technology Development    Proc. 2006 IEEE Aerospace Conf. 2006. Big Sky, Montana: IEEE CS Press    Author: Lin, Y.

On possible release of microbe-containing particulates from a Mars lander spacecraft    Planetary and Space Science. 2005    Authors: Harstad, K. and J. Bellan

Transport of Biological Contamination During Launch and at the Surface of Mars    Mars Dust Devil Workshop. 2005. Flagstaff, AZ    Authors: Lin, Y. and J. Barengoltz