DEFINITION:

Includes the techniques, tests and technologies to ensure and verify that the hardware fulfils the requirements in terms of contamination, sterilisation and degradation in a broad sense.

(Source: ESA TD 24C)

SUBDOMAINS:

1. Sterilisation of Materials: Effect of sterilisation on materials and assemblies, compatibility of materials with sterilisation techniques. (Note: Technologies related to verification of the bioburden reduction process are covered in 1-K).
2. Control of Molecular Contamination: Outgassing of materials, cleanliness monitoring techniques, contamination transfer processes, effects on performance, mitigation, surface contamination, … Laser-induced contamination, photo-fixation of contamination.
3. Control of Particulate Contamination: Includes contamination transfer processes, effects on performance, mitigation, protection, cleanroom monitoring.