Checking cleanliness of ATV cargo bag

Prior to the launch of ATV, its cleaning team at the launch site in French Guiana tracked ‘bioburden’ levels by exposing containers of nutrient gel for 30 seconds beside a surface to be cleaned. Q-tips and swabs were additionally wielded, to check cargo bags and operator gowns. These samples are then incubated in an oven heated to 37 °C at ESA's partner the Pasteur Institute in nearby Cayenne. Within four to seven days we identify the microbial colonies growing in the gel, if any, then count the population size.