The creation of Russia’s orbital service station (ROSS) using the modules of the International Space Station (ISS) may lead to an emergence of potentially pathogenic bacteria which damage materials, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Oleg Orlov said.
"The option of creating the ROSS using the ISS modules will lead to the transfer of the microbiota to the new modules, will accelerate the process of their biocontamination which will result in potentially pathogenic bacteria and technophiles participating in the process of the biodestruction of materials emerging at the ROSS," the institute cited him as saying at a joint meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Space Council and the Presidium of the Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos.
As an example, the scientist cited a failure of commutation equipment during the 24th expedition on the Mir orbital station due to the activity of microorganisms.
According to him, currently three options are being considered for the creation of the ROSS: a mid-latitude orbit with a tilt of 51.6 degrees based on the modules of the ISS’ Russian segment, an orbit with a tilt of 51.6 degrees based on the new modules and a polar orbit with a tilt of 96.8 degrees.
