Space Shuttle Support
The operational program in the microbiology department includes surveillance
of the spacecraft surfaces, air, and water to ensure a safe environment for the
astronauts. The types and numbers of bacteria and fungi are determined to verify
adherence to acceptability limits.
International Space Station Support
Operational monitoring is the main focus of the Microbiology Laboratory's
role in the ISS Program, to minimize the risk of infection to crew
and mitigate potential contamination that might adversely affect
the spacecraft environment and systems operation. In addition
to clinical monitoring of crewmembers and evaluation of food samples
before flight, environmental samples are collected in accordance with
SSP50260, Medical Operations Requirements Document (MORD) for International
Space Station. These samples may include air, surface, or water that
are collected from ISS modules and flight hardware before flight and
from the habitable volume of ISS and potable water supplies during flight.
Collection and on-board analysis of in-flight samples is accomplished
using the Surface Sampler Kit (SSK), Microbial
Air Sampler (MAS)
Kit, Water Sample Collection Kit (WSCK),
Water Microbiology Kit (WMK), and the
Microbiology Water Analysis Kit (MWAK).
The Microbiology Laboratory personnel provide administrative and technical
support for ISS operational meetings (e.g., readiness reviews)
and includes attendance, keeping up with schedule of reviews, support
training for crew, flight surgeons, and biomedical engineers on Microbiology
hardware. Support is also provided to flight hardware engineers in the
construction and quality control for ISS hardware re-supply, technical
support at meetings, review of documentation, presentation of materials
for board review, review of test plans and manifesting. Microbiology
Laboratory personnel serve as technical experts for development and on-going
operations to groups such as Environmental Life Support Systems and Housekeeping.
A comprehensive data base is maintained and made available to International
Partners and Program offices.
