Biological Contamination of Mars Issues and Recommendations (1992) / Chapter Skim
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6 ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
6 ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Pages 51-58
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From page 51... ...
Such data also will greatly affect the ability to make future decisions concerning the standards of rigor required for spacecraft cleanliness and possible sterilization. The term planetary protection encompasses two very distinct concepts: the forward contamination of Mars and the back contamination 51
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From page 52... ...
It is essential that these studies precede any lifedetection or piloted missions to the martian surface as well as any missions designed to return samples to Earth. Collection of Essential Data Viking provided us with pictures of a martian surface varying widely in its geomorphological features.
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From page 53... ...
Future sample return missions, piloted missions, and their associated quarantines will benefit from a planetary protection policy predicated on an approach that yields the least conservative estimates of existing martian life. Collection of the appropriate data should allow the scientific community to amend recommendations for a planetary protection policy for back contamination, perhaps resulting in recommendations similar to those that this task group has made for altering current policy on forward contamination.
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From page 54... ...
RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING OTHER ISSUES Piloted Versus Unpiloted Missions Plans for future missions to Mars include bringing samples back to Earth as well as landing humans on Mars. Although humans may be effective, and perhaps even necessary, for the detection of past life (e.g., 54
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From page 55... ...
To forestall such unnecessary confrontation, the task group recommends that NASA make every attempt to inform the public about current planetary protection plans and provide continuing updates concerning Mars exploration and sample return. The task group thinks that there is not likely to be great public concern over the question of outbound contamination, especially if the public understands the scientific objectives and is aware that the issue of contamination has been addressed (and that appropriate precautions are being taken)
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From page 56... ...
Public Health Service, the Department of Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency, all of which deal with the exposure of American citizens to hazardous or toxic materials. International groups such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the International Labor Organization have also attempted to address questions involving protection of Earth's environment and minimization of risk to populations from space exploration activity.
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From page 57... ...
Appendixes 57
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