Spacecraft Sterilization using Non-equilibrium Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

Abstract: As a solution to chemically and thermally destructive sterilization methods cur-rently used for spacecraft, non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasmas are used to treat surfaces inoculated with Bacillus subtilis and Deinococcus radiodurans. Evidence of signifi-cant morphological changes and reduction in viability due to plasma exposure will be pre-sented, including a 4-log reduction of B. subtilis after 2 minutes of dielectric barrier discharge treatment