OBJECTIVES:
As NASA prepares for long-term missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and spacecraft destined for Mars, self-contained/closed chambers on Earth have become important test beds for microbiological evaluations. The insight gained from these studies directly benefits NASA as this knowledge is incorporated into the development of monitoring systems and countermeasures against microbiological contamination problems unique to long-duration space missions.
The microbiological study of these chambers and their crew also addresses many Earth-based concerns. Many office buildings are semi-closed systems, which can develop air and surface contamination. Commonly referred to as "sick building syndrome," contamination in these facilities may affect up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide. The United States Navy has also investigated the problems associated with microbial growth in semi-closed systems to determine the potential health risks during long-term submarine missions. While studies of office buildings and submarines give some insight into changes in the microbial levels and diversity created by an artificial ecosystem, all terrestrial models eventually have access to fresh air and water and can be thoroughly disinfected. The NASA closed-chamber studies provided the unique opportunity to evaluate undisturbed changes in microbial ecology and its relationship to the crew.
During the chamber studies, the primary objective of microbiological evaluations was to ensure crew health by monitoring microbial levels and changes in microbial ecology.