Data Management Plan for project "Microbial Bioburden Monitoring in an Analogue Mars Habitat Using COSPAR-Compliant Sampling Wipes"

<p dir="ltr">This project investigates the microbial bioburden inside the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, a Mars-analogue habitat used for space mission simulation. The research aims to understand how human activity and cleaning procedures influence microbial presence on internal surfaces and to test the effectiveness of COSPAR Planetary Protection–compliant sterile wipes for environmental monitoring.</p><p dir="ltr">Surface samples will be collected from key areas of the habitat (e.g. lab benches, airlock handles, kitchen counters, and sleeping areas) using sterile wipes pre-prepared in the lab with phosphate-buffered saline. Samples will be cultured to quantify viable microorganisms (CFU/cm²) and analysed for microbial diversity.</p><p dir="ltr">The study will generate quantitative and qualitative environmental microbiological data that will help evaluate contamination control protocols in analogue space environments. No personal or identifiable human data will be collected.</p>