Human Forward Contamination Assessment of EVA and ECLSS Systems, Year 2

In the project period we will perform ground tests to sample and characterize microbial contamination on external spacesuit surfaces under destination conditions. Sample collection in a space environment is complicated by low pressure that requires dry (rather than wetted) collection swabs and a special container design to mitigate contamination as the sample is transported between a spacecraft pressure cabin and external vacuum environment. Collecting microbial samples outside of a spacecraft also requires tools that meet EVA requirements, to prevent damage to spacesuit gloves or sensitive spacecraft hardware, and prevent the tool from becoming loose. The U.S. currently has no capability to collect EVA microbial samples. The Russians have an EVA swab tool designed to sample for corrosion, but the tool's sterility and appropriateness for bacterial sampling has been questioned (findings that suggested plankton outside of ISS were withdrawn from prior to publishing). The current prototype device is adequate for form, fit, and function testing, but cannot be used to sample flight hardware (Class I spacesuits or life support systems) unless additional certification and testing is completed to upgrade for Class I use. FY17 IRAD funding would allow us to upgrade the prototype EVA sampling kit, which will allow us to take the kit into a vacuum chamber to continue ground testing, and eventually to ISS to begin sampling external life support system vents and spacesuits.

Goal/Gap: Characterize the kinds of organisms we can reasonably expect pressurized, crewed volumes to vent or leak overboard in order to determine if our current ECLSS and EVA systems are sufficient for Mars surface use, or if new technologies are required. This project supports 3 of JSC's 6 technology development priority areas: the need to minimize human forward contamination will inform life support system and EVA suit designs; human forward contamination could also affect where we locate - or how crews operate - potential in situ resource utilization equipment to minimize source contamination. Unlike the rovers that we cleaned once and sent on their way, humans will be a perpetual source of microbial contaminants. Understanding what--if any--microbes are escaping from our suits or life support systems will help us develop hardware that meets planetary protection protocols and mitigates contamination of Mars surface science. If we wait until Mars surface system hardware is designed and built, it will be costly to retrofit or redesign planetary protection provisions. The ISS is an ideal test bed to evaluate the kinds of microbes escaping from our spacecraft and suits, but we currently have no capability for surface sampling outside the spacecraft.

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