RADIATION AND THERMAL-RESISTANCE OF MICROORGANISMS CONTAMINATING SPACE TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS AND ARTICLES

Data are presented on radiation and thermal resistance of microorganis ms contaminating space technology materials and articles; such data ar e required for finding and isolating the most resistant cultures for u se as standards in determining biological effectiveness of technologic al sterilization regimes for space apparatus landing on Mars and for s electing the regimes. It was established that for most microorganisms studied, a quite low radiation resistance is characteristic (D10 = 1 k Gy or less), but there are also species with high radiation resistance . The dependence of thermal resistance of microflora on conditions of heating was confirmed. Among microflora there are both thermolabile an d thermoresistant forms. In comparison with bacterial spores, micromyc ete conidia are less resistant to radiation and heat.