Extremophiles in spacecraft assembly clean rooms

Moissl-Eichinger, Christine

doi:10.1007/978-3-211-99691-1_10

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…There are varying classes of cleanrooms which are defined by the number of airborne particulates present. The International Standards Organization (ISO) sets cleanroom standards to which both the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) adhere [ [4] , [5] , [6] ]. Particulates are controlled with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, sticky mats, and suits that users are required to wear.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Particulates are controlled with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, sticky mats, and suits that users are required to wear. Even with such measures in place, particulates, including microorganisms, persist in cleanrooms [ [6] , [7] , [8] ]. Cleaning and disinfecting procedures differ between organizations resulting in varying microbial communities between cleanrooms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Achieving these levels of bioburden (for example, < 30 bacterial spores for equipment entering Special Regions of Mars) depends on contamination prevention in spacecraft assembly cleanrooms on Earth [ 3 ]. Despite the rigorous decontamination measures typically employed by cleanroom facilities [ 4 , 5 ], next-generation sequencing efforts have recently revealed the presence of non-culturable organisms frequently contaminating cleanrooms at higher levels than was previously thought possible [ [6] , [7] , [8] ]. These organisms are of particular concern for planetary protection as they potentially pose increased threats for forward contaminantion of Martian soils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Development of Martian saline seep models and their implications for planetary protection

Mettler,

Goemann,

Mueller

et al. 2023

Biofilm

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of Martian saline seep models and their implications for planetary protection

Mettler,

Goemann,

Mueller

et al. 2023

Biofilm

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“…At first glance, the unintentional transport of entire ecosystems from Earth rather than a few isolated species seems remarkably less likely. However, given that life often exists as ecological units and that spacecraft clean room microbial ecosystems are not well characterized (Moissl-Eichinger, 2012), the possibility of contamination by ecosystems in alien environments cannot be ruled out. FIG.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeding Biochemistry on Other Worlds: Enceladus as a Case Study

et al. 2021

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The Solar System is becoming increasingly accessible to exploration by robotic missions to search for life. However, astrobiologists currently lack well-defined frameworks to quantitatively assess the chemical space accessible to life in these alien environments. Such frameworks will be critical for developing concrete predictions needed for future mission planning, both to determine the potential viability of life on other worlds and to anticipate the molecular biosignatures that life could produce. Here, we describe how uniting existing methods provides a framework to study the accessibility of biochemical space across diverse planetary environments. Our approach combines observational data from planetary missions with genomic data catalogued from across Earth and analyzed using computational methods from network theory. To demonstrate this, we use 307 biochemical networks generated from genomic data collected across Earth and “seed” these networks with molecules confirmed to be present on Saturn's moon Enceladus. By expanding through known biochemical reaction space starting from these seed compounds, we are able to determine which products of Earth's biochemistry are, in principle, reachable from compounds available in the environment on Enceladus, and how this varies across different examples of life from Earth (organisms, ecosystems, planetary-scale biochemistry). While we find that none of the 307 prokaryotes analyzed meet the threshold for viability, the reaction space covered by this process can provide a map of possible targets for detection of Earth-like life on Enceladus, as well as targets for synthetic biology approaches to seed life on Enceladus. In cases where biochemistry is not viable because key compounds are missing, we identify the environmental precursors required to make it viable, thus providing a set of compounds to prioritize for detection in future planetary exploration missions aimed at assessing the ability of Enceladus to sustain Earth-like life or directed panspermia.

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“…A practical consideration for jettisoning strict no-contamination guidelines for our immediate solar system is cost. Protocols to keep every component of space hardware free of microbial contamination are wasteful and add extra layers of regulation, personnel expertise and time (Moissl-Eichinger, Cockell and Rettberg 2016; Moissl-Eichenger 2012; Rummel and Conley 2017). The potential introduction by the crew's microbiomes remains a concern that has only been recently addressed (Coil et al .…”

Section: Introduction—history and Past Microbial Policy In Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Inevitable future: space colonization beyond Earth with microbes first

Lopez

Peixoto

Rosado

2019

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

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Based on modern microbiology, we propose a major revision in current space exploration philosophy and planetary protection policy, especially regarding microorganisms in space. Mainly, microbial introduction should not be considered accidental but inevitable. We hypothesize the near impossibility of exploring new planets without carrying and/or delivering any microbial travelers. In addition, although we highlight the importance of controlling and tracking such contaminations—to explore the existence of extraterrestrial microorganisms—we also believe that we must discuss the role of microbes as primary colonists and assets, rather than serendipitous accidents, for future plans of extraterrestrial colonization. This paradigm shift stems partly from the overwhelming evidence of microorganisms’ diverse roles in sustaining life on Earth, such as symbioses and ecosystem services (decomposition, atmosphere effects, nitrogen fixation, etc.). Therefore, we propose a framework for new discussion based on the scientific implications of future colonization and terraforming: (i) focus on methods to track and avoid accidental delivery of Earth's harmful microorganisms and genes to extraterrestrial areas; (ii) begin a rigorous program to develop and explore ‘Proactive Inoculation Protocols’. We outline a rationale and solicit feedback to drive a public and private research agenda that optimizes diverse organisms for potential space colonization.

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Extremophiles in spacecraft assembly clean rooms

Cited by 7 publications

References 55 publications

Development of Martian saline seep models and their implications for planetary protection

Development of Martian saline seep models and their implications for planetary protection

Seeding Biochemistry on Other Worlds: Enceladus as a Case Study

Inevitable future: space colonization beyond Earth with microbes first

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