CASS•E: Cranfield astrobiological stratospheric sampling experiment

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 res