John D Rummel, US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, USA
Linda Billings, SETI Institute, Washington, DC, USA
Pericles Stabekis, Windermere Group, Washington, DC, USA
Published online: September 2005
DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0004034
Planetary protection is the practice of protecting solar system bodies (planets, moons, asteroids and comets) from Earth life and protecting the Earth from life that may be brought back from other solar system bodies. Planetary protection requirements for solar system exploration missions are established in consideration of the nature, goals and destination of a mission.
Keywords: astrobiology; microbiology; solar system exploration
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Figure 1. Europa, a moon of the planet Jupiter, is a target in the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Scientists believe Europa has a liquid water ocean beneath its icy surface. (Credit: JPL/University of Arizona.)
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Figure 2. Mars Global Surveyor took this picture of the northern martian polar ice cap in 1998. Evidence of frozen water on the surface of Mars leads scientists to believe that liquid water could exist in warmer regions beneath the surface of the planet. (Credit: Malin Space Science Systems/NASA.)
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Figure 3. Technician samples surface of a Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft for microbial contamination before launch. (Credit: NASA.)
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| Further Reading | |
| ePath COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy, 20 October 2002. Available online at http://www.cosparhq.org/scistr/PPPPolicy.htm. | |
| Gladman BJ, Burns JA, Duncan M, Lee P and Levison HF (1996) The exchange of impact ejecta between terrestrial planets. Science 271: 1387–1392. | |
| McKay DS, Gibson EK Jr, Thomas-Keprta KL et al. (1996) Search for past life on Mars: possible relic biogenic activity in Martian meteorite ALH84001. Science 273: 924–930. | |
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Mitrofanov IG,
Zuber MT,
Litvak ML et al.
(2003)
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| ePath NASA (2002) A Draft Test Protocol for Detecting Possible Biohazards in Martian Samples Returned to Earth (NASA/CP-2002-211842). Hanover, MD: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information. Available online: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/e-docket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-19287.htm | |
| ePath NASA (1999a) Biological Contamination Control for Outbound and Inbound Planetary Spacecraft. NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 8020.7E. Washington, DC: NASA Headquarters. Available online: http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/library/displayDir.cfm?Internal_ID=N_PD_8020_007E_&page_name=main&search_term=planetary%20protection. | |
| Nicholson WL, Munakata N, Horneck G, Melosh HJ and Sellow P (2000) Resistance of Bacillus endospores to extreme terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. Microbial Molecular Biological Review 64: 548–572. | |
| ePath Space Studies Board (Task Group on Issues in Sample Return), National Research Council (1997) Mars Sample Return: Issues and Recommendations. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences. http://www.nap.edu/books/0309057337/html/index.html. | |
| ePath Space Studies Board, National Research Council (1998) Evaluating the Biological Potential in Samples Returned from Planetary Satellites and Small Solar System Bodies. Task Group on Sample Return from Small Solar System Bodies. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences. http://www.nap.edu/books/0309061369/html/index.html. | |
| ePath Space Studies Board, National Research Council (2002a) The Quarantine and Certification of Martian Samples. Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences. http://www.nap.edu/books/0309075718/html/index.html | |
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