To protect the crew while on-orbit, scientists and engineers have come
together as a team to create hardware to monitor the quality of
water, surfaces, and air on-board the International Space Station (ISS).
Because of limited crew time and stowage space, in-flight monitoring
hardware must be user friendly and compact. Commercial-off-the-shelf
items are generally used for microbial monitoring onboard ISS; however,
some hardware items must be modified to work in zero gravity. The Microbiology
Laboratory has a total of five ISS monitoring hardware kits in which
three are used for water collection and processing (WSCK, WMK and MWAK),
and one each for surface sampling (SSK) and air sampling (MAS kit).
Water Collection and Sample Processing
The Water Sample Collection Kit (WSCK) consists of sample port adapters, flush
bags, and sample bags for collection of microbial and chemical water samples.
On-orbit monitoring occurs once every 3 months. Collection of archive water samples
for return to ground occurs during each Shuttle return. The Water Microbiology
Kit (WMK) consists of all hardware and consumables needed to process a water
sample for on-orbit bacterial enumeration. The Microbiology Water Analysis Kit
(MWAK) consists of all hardware and consumables needed to process a water sample
for on-orbit detection of coliform bacteria.
Surface Sampling
The Surface Sampler Kit (SSK) consists of all hardware and consumables needed
to collect and process surface samples. Surface samples are collected every three
months from predetermined locations in the U.S. segments of the ISS to determine
the bacterial and fungal concentration on surfaces.
Air Sampling
The Microbial Air Sampler (MAS) Kit consists of all hardware and consumables
needed to collect and process cabin air samples. Air samples are also collected
from predetermined locations in the U.S. segments of the ISS every three months
to determine the airborne levels of bacteria and fungi.
