[X] My Assistant

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Well, we all know that the COSPAR treaty has set some rules to avoid contamination of the planets by 'bacteria' from Earth ... and a similar program exists to protect Earth's environment for 'alien' bacteria which could be brought back during sample-return missions.
I'm trying to make a list of Planetary Quarantine & Planetary Sterilisation measures which were taken for spacecraft bound to Mars:

e.g. Both Viking Landers were encapsulated in an enclosed bioshield and 'cooked' ( = heat sterilization ) in an oven at NEC for 30 hours at 111.7 degrees Celsius !

Trying to find out what was done for Mars Polar Lander, Pathfinder-Sojourner, MER Spirit & Opportunity, ...

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Both Viking orbiters were assembled at NASA-JPL, the landers were designed, built and assembled at Martin Marietta in Denver COLORADO... but does anybody know where the Landers were dry heat sterilized ?
The landers and their aeroshell with heatshield were encapsulated in a bioshield ( contractor was Sheldahl Inc of Northfield MINNESOTA ) and were put in an oven at NEC corporation for over 30 hours...
Any idea where NEC corp was situated ?



Meanwhile I have found that large ovens were present in the KSC Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation buildings at Cape Canaveral ... After dry heat sterilization, propellants for descent and landing engines were fed through fill lines with biofilters to assure removal of any remaining organisms... anyway after mating to the orbiters, the complete setup was checked again for cleanliness I guess ... before going into the air conditioned Centaur shroud ...


This post has been edited by PhilCo126: Apr 15 2006, 05:56 PM

[Bob Shaw]

I make no apologies for reposting this image of myself next to the Viking 2 lander at the Cape, doing my very best to be a biohazard - this was taken on or around 23 July 1975.

Bob Shaw

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