[Current problems of microbial safety of the interior environment of orbital stations after extended period of operation].

The authors give considerations to one of the core hygienic problems arising in the process of long-term operation of orbital stations, i.e. ensuring microbial health of the milieu interior. Data pertaining the origin, interactions, and transformation of the microbial risk factors are analyzed as applied to this class of spacecraft. A concept of microbial health of the milieu interior including both medical and technological aspects relating to the reliability of space hardware is proposed. Based on the result of investigations in space flight, the developed criteria and indices of microbial health can be turned to practical use. The currently central tasks to be solved within the context of the problem and in view of the construction of international space station ALPHA are listed.