Establishing and monitoring an aseptic workspace for building the MOMA mass spectrometer

Erin N. Lalime; David Berlin

doi:10.1117/12.2238226

27 September 2016 Establishing and monitoring an aseptic workspace for building the MOMA mass spectrometer

Erin N. Lalime, David Berlin

Proceedings Volume 9952, Systems Contamination: Prediction, Control, and Performance 2016; 99520H (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2238226
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2016, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) is an instrument suite on the European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars 2020 Rover, and the Mass Spectrometer (MOMA-MS) is being built at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). MOMA-MS is a life-detection instrument and thus falls in the most stringent category of Planetary Protection (PP) biological cleanliness requirements. Less than 0.03 spore/m2 are allowed in the instrument sample path. In order to meet these PP requirements, MOMA-MS must be built and maintained in a low bioburden environment. The MOMA-MS project at GSFC maintains three clean rooms with varying levels of bioburden control. The Aseptic Assembly Clean room has the highest level of control, applying three different bioburden reducing methods: 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), 7.5% Hydrogen Peroxide, and Ultra-Violet C (UVC) light. The three methods are used in rotation and each kills microorganisms by a different mechanism, reducing the likelihood of microorganisms developing resistance to all three. The Integration and Mars Chamber Clean rooms use less biocidal cleaning, with the option to deploy extra techniques as necessary. To support the monitoring of clean rooms and verification that MOMA-MS hardware meets PP requirements, a new Planetary Protection lab was established that currently has the capabilities of standard growth assays for spore or vegetative bacteria, rapid bioburden analysis that detects Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), plus autoclave and Dry Heat microbial Reduction (DHMR) verification. The clean rooms are monitored for vegetative microorganisms and by rapid ATP assay, and a clear difference in bioburden is observed between the aseptic and other clean room.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Erin N. Lalime and David Berlin "Establishing and monitoring an aseptic workspace for building the MOMA mass spectrometer", Proc. SPIE 9952, Systems Contamination: Prediction, Control, and Performance 2016, 99520H (27 September 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2238226

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