Astronauts test themselves for space cooties

William Atkins
Saturday, 21 March 2009 20:15

Science - Space

The NASA article concluded with, “Eventually, the LOCAD team plans to develop a special Q-tip to take outside. For now, ‘our goal is to see if we can monitor the gloves effectively without interfering with EVA preparation and cleanup. Those very busy times on the ISS will be even busier before a walk on the Moon or Mars.’"

“Future Mars explorers will need to monitor and restrict biological contamination before, during, and after their outings. A spacecraft containing humans always contains plenty of biological material, and it can't all be eliminated.

"‘Our experiment will help define acceptable levels of biological material on the surface of anything (including spacesuits) that might be taken outside of the cabin and into 'the wild.'"

“That way if astronauts on Mars bring back anything from their outings that looks lively under a microscope, they'll have some idea whether it's (a) a native Martian life form or (b) a speck of weird fungi from someone's navel.”

The Q-tip test was earlier performed back on 2007 after the LOCAD-PTS instrument was brought up to the Space Station by a NASA space shuttle mission. See the NASA article "No Foolin' -- 'Lab on a Chip' Works!"

The Universe Today article "Measures to Prevent the Contamination of Mars" provides additional information on possible human contamination to Mars.

Also, check out the Space.com article "Next Mars Mission: Contamination a Big Concern."