ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................609 Background ............................................................................................................ 610 Contamination Control........................................................................................... 613 Contamination Consequences ................................................................................ 614 Planetary Protection ............................................................................................... 614 Contamination Forensics ....................................................................................... 616 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 617 References .............................................................................................................. 617
Contamination is an ever-present in uence on a spacecraft throughout its life, from sensor fabrication, system integration, prelaunch preparation, the launch itself, and mission performance, through the end of the mission. Concerns about contamination even continue after the conclusion of the mission. This chapter will examine the contamination problem from all angles, including its sources; methods of prevention; ways to detect, measure, and control contamination; and its effects on the spacecraft’s sensors. Beyond the sensors, the issues involved in contamination control include the arti cial objects placed into space as artifacts and debris and also the effects of space exploration on the larger environment.
