Citation:
L. Naicker, V.V. Grama, C.M. Juanes-Vallejo, I. Katramados, C. Rato, C. Rix, E. Sanchez, D. Cullen. CASS•E: Cranfield astrobiological stratospheric sampling experiment. 61st International Astronautical Congress, Prague, CZ. 27th September - 1 October 2010.
Abstract:
CASS•E is a life detectionexperimentthat aims to be capable of collecting
microorganisms in Earth's Stratosphere. Theexperiment will be launched on
astratosphericballoon in collaboration with Eurolaunch through the BEXUS
(Balloon-borneExperimentsfor Universitv Students) program from Esrange Sweden in
October 2010. It essentially consists of a pump which draws air from the
Stratosphere through a collection filter mechanism. Due to the low number
density of microbes in the Stratosphere compared to the known levels of
contamination at ground level, theexperimentincorporated Planetary Protection
and Contamination Control (PP&CC) protocols in its design and construction in
order to confirm that any microbes detected are trulyStratosphericin origin.
Space qualified cleaning and sterilisation techniques were employed throughout
Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT) as well as biobarriers which were
designed to open only in the stratosphere and so prevent recontamination of the
instrument alter sterilisation. The material presented here covers the design
and AIT of CASS•E. Copyright ©2010 by the International Astronautical
Federation. All rights rese