Question

responed to the writting below any comment ?

Since these microorganisms contaminate the earth, we need a protocol to disinfect the spaceship. The microbes that are found on space ships are the organisms that survived the trip from spaces and can survive in both space and earth environments. In a biofilm on a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, microorganisms survive at temperatures above 100C. If a sample were to be taken from the biofilm, many of the microbes would die on their way up to sea level, since it is not their ideal environment.

To disinfect a spaceship, we can use gaseous sterilants since they will denature the proteins in the microorganisms. Once the protein is denatured, the microbe can no longer function. A gas chamber large enough to fit the spaceship can be designed to house the spaceship and disinfect it until its next use.

Answer 1

Yes, its important to sterilize the spaceship beacuse certain microbes are contagious, may infect the human beings residing in the spaceship. Suggestion of gaseous sterilants seems perfect. The toxicity of any microbe is related to its protein, if that protein is denatured, the toxicity of the protein is lost forever. Once the protein is denatured, it will not renature again, thus, its toxicity is lost forever. Broadly speaking, sterilization is not the problem but actually the area of the spaceship is so confined plus it should be non toxic to the humans and to the gadgets inside the spaceship, thus we need to think of an effective sterilization technique.

One recent technique, namely, Plasma purging, is been quite effective for sterilization, an idea of the same method has been given in the question itself. This technique uses the fourth state of the matter, named PLASMA. It is used as ionized gas, at low pressure.

This ionized gas is quite effective for bacteria, viruses and even prions (microbes that contain only protein in their structure) too and is required in very small doses. Its action is very fast that it can inactivate 100 million bacterial spores in just 5 minutes. A bacterial strain, Bacterial pumilus SAFR-032 was found to denature by the usage of this ionized gas. This gas is non toxic to humans.

Experiments with this ionized gas are quite successful as of now in the non- spaceship environment. After clearing some more protocols, this method will be adopted for sterilizing the spaceship as it is cost effective, safe and fast. Scientists are thinking to adopt some alternate method to sterilize the spaceship because the present method of using dry heat and hydrogen peroxide is harmful to the electronic and heat sensitive gadgets.

Plasma purging technique seems promising so far..