Atmospheric Plasma Jet for Spacecraft Surface Sterilization for Planetary Protection

New technology is required for Contamination Control for Planetary Protection as the planetary science community explores solar system bodies with the potential for detecting life. Currently, dry heat microbial reduction (DHMR) and vapor hydrogen peroxide (VHP) are the only microbial reduction methods approved for planetary protection. DHMR is extremely time consuming and chamber time is difficult to schedule, while the use of VHP is not useable for some state-of-the-art electronics and materials.