Self sterilization of bodies during outer planet entryAs a body encounters the atmosphere of an outer planet, whether accidentally or by plan, it will be subjected to heat loads which could result in high temperature conditions that render terrestrial organisms on or within the body non-viable. To determine whether an irregularly shaped entering body, consisting of several different materials, would be sterilized during inadvertent entry at high velocity, the thermal response of a typical outer planet spacecraft instrument was studied. The results indicate that the Teflon-insulated cable and electronic circuit boards may not experience sterilizing temperatures during a Jupiter, Saturn, or Titan entry. Another conclusion of the study is that small plastic particles entering Saturn from outer space have wider survival corridors than do those at Jupiter.
Document ID
19750060065
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Hoffman, A. R.
Jaworski, W.
Taylor, D. M. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)