MENTOR, Ohio -- STERIS Corporation announces that its subsidiary, Strategic Technology Enterprises, Inc., has been awarded a contract by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA contract laboratory, to conduct research and development activities to optimize and certify a STERIS patented proprietary sterilization technology for application in the sterilization of robotic planetary spacecraft systems and sub-systems. JPL is pursuing this certification to meet NASA's sterility requirements on future space exploration missions.

Strategic Technology Enterprises will provide STERIS's patented technology along with a specially designed and manufactured sterilization chamber to perform a variety of experiments. The goal of the research is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology in killing a selection of microorganisms known to be highly resistant to sterilization that are typically found in spacecraft assembly areas. JPL, in conjunction with NASA's Planetary Protection Office, will investigate the parameters required by NASA to certify the sterilization process. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Commenting on the agreement, Les C. Vinney, STERIS's president and CEO, said, "We are pleased to be working with NASA and supporting their efforts to explore our solar system. STERIS technologies are used to sterilize and decontaminate critical environments everyday in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and research industries worldwide. This agreement reinforces our belief that our technologies can be used in even broader applications, and represents one of several steps we are taking to adapt our technologies to new markets, a key element of our growth strategy. We look forward to working with NASA on this and future projects."

STERIS provides an array of technologies that have been proven highly effective against a range of pathogenic organisms and bacterial spores. In addition to sterilizing medical devices, these technologies are used to sterilize and decontaminate building environments, including entire rooms and their contents, as well as sensitive electronic equipment, ductwork, research isolators, and other artifacts.

STERIS Corporation is a leading provider of infection prevention, contamination prevention, microbial reduction, and surgical support systems, products, services and technologies to healthcare, scientific, research, industrial, and government customers throughout the world. 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif.