Lessons Learned in Designing a Proposed Ultraviolet Sterilization System for Space

David W. Hughes; Giuseppe Cataldo; Fernando A. Pellerano; Terra C. Hardwick; Frankie Micalizzi; Victor J. Chambers; Brian R. Bean; Berton J. Braley; William B. Cook; Ratna Day; Thomas J. Emmett; Clark D. Hovis; Stefan Ioana; Dillon E. Johnstone; Amandeep Kaur; Wendy M. Morgenstern; Nicholas M. Nicolaeff; Lawrence Ong; Len Seals; Richard G. Schnurr; Laurie L. Seide; George B. Shaw; Kevin A. Smith; Oscar Ta; William J. Thomes; Honam Yum

doi:10.3390/aerospace11070538

Aerospace (Jul 2024)

Lessons Learned in Designing a Proposed Ultraviolet Sterilization System for Space

David W. Hughes,
Giuseppe Cataldo,
Fernando A. Pellerano,
Terra C. Hardwick,
Frankie Micalizzi,
Victor J. Chambers,
Brian R. Bean,
Berton J. Braley,
William B. Cook,
Ratna Day,
Thomas J. Emmett,
Clark D. Hovis,
Stefan Ioana,
Dillon E. Johnstone,
Amandeep Kaur,
Wendy M. Morgenstern,
Nicholas M. Nicolaeff,
Lawrence Ong,
Len Seals,
Richard G. Schnurr,
Laurie L. Seide,
George B. Shaw,
Kevin A. Smith,
Oscar Ta,
William J. Thomes,
Honam Yum

Affiliations

David W. Hughes: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Giuseppe Cataldo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Fernando A. Pellerano: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Terra C. Hardwick: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Frankie Micalizzi: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Victor J. Chambers: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Brian R. Bean: Intuitive Machines, Houston, TX 77059, USA
Berton J. Braley: Lentech, Inc., Hanover, MD 21076, USA
William B. Cook: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Ratna Day: ASRC Federal, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Thomas J. Emmett: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Clark D. Hovis: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Stefan Ioana: Aerodyne Industries, LLC, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, USA
Dillon E. Johnstone: Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, MD 20706, USA
Amandeep Kaur: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Wendy M. Morgenstern: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Nicholas M. Nicolaeff: Aerodyne Industries, LLC, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, USA
Lawrence Ong: KBR, Inc., Fulton, MD 20759, USA
Len Seals: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Richard G. Schnurr: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Laurie L. Seide: KBR, Inc., Fulton, MD 20759, USA
George B. Shaw: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Kevin A. Smith: Design Interface, Inc., Finksburg, MD 21048, USA
Oscar Ta: Genesis Engineering Solutions, Inc., Lanham, MD 20706, USA
William J. Thomes: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Honam Yum: KBR, Inc., Fulton, MD 20759, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11070538
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 7
p. 538

Abstract

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This paper presents a number of lessons learned while designing a proposed sterilization system for Mars Sample Return. This sterilization system is needed to inactivate any potentially hazardous Mars material on the exterior surface of the vessel containing sealed sample tubes filled with Mars rock cores, regolith and atmosphere. These returned samples would provide information on the geologic history of Mars, the evolution of its climate and the potential for ancient life. Mars Sample Return is categorized at Planetary Protection Category V Restricted Earth Return, so it is required to protect the Earth–Moon system from the biological impact of returning samples from Mars to Earth. This article reviews lessons learned in the development of a particular engineering implementation to support the protection of the Earth–Moon biosphere: the use of in situ ultraviolet LED illumination. The details of the biological efficacy of this approach or the policy-related impacts are outside of the scope of this manuscript. The lessons learned presented here include establishing design requirements for the system, the selection of a light source, optical design options, contamination control and approaches to thermal and power management.

Published in Aerospace

ISSN: 2226-4310 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/aerospace

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