Abstract:
With an eye to the microbial control needs in the planetery protection missions, this paper reviews the application of biological indicators in dry heat microbial reduction (DHMR) processes, and the changes of biological indicators selected by NASA in different periods and their influence on the revision of DHMR technical process specifications. Meanwhile, based on the analysis of heat-resistant microorganisms in China’s AIT (assembly, integration and testing) environment, suggestions for the screening process of DHMR biological indicators suitable for planetary protection missions in China are proposed, to provide surport for enacting technical specifications of the DHMR process for China's spacecrafts.