BIOSMHARS: Biocontamination specific modelling in habitats related to space

Audrey Berthier, Natalie Leys, Rob Van Houdt, Alexander Tikhomirov, Natalia Novikova, Vacheslav Ilyin, Ilpo Kulmala, Matti Lehtimäki, Eero Kokkonen, Pertti Pasanen, Hafid Abaibou, Felice Mastroleo

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Biocontamination in spacecrafts is a risk for the health of the crew and for the on-board equipment. The reduced immune response of astronauts and the degradation capacities of some microorganisms call for specific measures to prevent biocontamination, to monitor it and to counteract it. Prevention includes taking this aspect into account for future rational habitat designs. Specific for the spread of biological aerosols, the development of a reliable model describing the bio-aerosol contamination spreading and development in closed manned habitat is important to pinpoint critical locations in a certain habitat design. BIOSMHARS is the first phase of a joint EU-Russia research effort to develop the scientific and technical tools for a comprehensive approach to the challenging issue of biocontamination inside manned spacecrafts. The project intends to develop, to calibrate and to validate a mathematical model to predict the transportation of bioaerosols in a closed environment and the concurrent spread of biocontamination. This type of models should support in the future the validation of new habitat design and the development of adequate prevention and monitoring procedures for airborne microbial contamination.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationLet’s Embrace Space
    Place of PublicationLuxembourg, Luxembourg
    PublisherEC - European Commission
    Pages278-284
    Volume2
    Edition1
    ISBN (Print)978-92-79-22207-8
    StatePublished - Jul 2012

    Publication series

    NameLet's Embrace Space
    Numbervolume 2

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