Animal wastes floated through space shuttle

Press, 16 May 1985, Page 23

Animal wastes floated through space shuttle

NZPA-AP Houston Rat and monkey wastes floated into the astronauts’ living quarters and got into their eyes, ears, and noses during the seven-day flight of space shuttle Challenger, the mission commander said.

Astronaut Bob Overmyer said he was concerned about the effects of having fine particles contaminated with animal wastes floating through the cabin, but none of the seven-member crew has shown symptoms of illness since the mission ended.

Spacelab three, a science module carried into orbit in Challenger’s cargo bay, housed 24 rats and two squirrel monkeys. During the flight, faeces and food particles escaped from the cages and flowed into the weightlessness of the spacecraft.

“Any pieces of faeces in the cabin where we were eating and living and breathing is bad,” said Overmyer, at the first news conference of the astronauts since their mission ended.

“There was always a cloud of dust particles that

had been in intimate contact with the animal wastes. This cloud of dust floated throughout the whole vehicle. It was getting into our eyes, ears, and noses.”

The astronaut said there has been no illness attributed to contact with the wastes, but he added, “the jury is still out on that.” Cultures are being made from throat, ear and nose swabbings and Overmyer said the results of these tests should be available soon.

Dr Norman Thagard, one of two astronaut physicians on the flight, said the animals flown on the mission were free of pathogens — microscopic disease-causing organisms — which lowered the . chances of the astronauts’ contracting an illness from the wastes.

Overmyer said he was disappointed that the cages failed to contain the wastes in weightlessness, but he said the National Aeronautics and Space Administration would find a way to conquer the problem so that laboratory animals might be flown on future missions.