title: The microbiology of spacecraft hardware: lessons learned from the planetary protection activities on the Beagle 2 spacecraft.
abstract: We consider the aseptic assembly of the Beagle 2 Mars probe and how the requirements of COSPAR planetary protection category IVa were achieved. Several areas for future investigation became apparent. An ESA mission is outlined in which a microbial bioburden is recovered after Earth orbit to assess viability following re-entry through the atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. j.m.pillinger@open.ac.uk
authors.forename: Judith M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pillinger
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Pillinger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sancisi-Frey
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Spry
mesh_terms: D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D018535:Mars; D018531:Spacecraft; D013242:Sterilization