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Report Series: Committee on Planetary Protection Evaluation of Bioburden Requirements for Mars Missions (2021) / Chapter Skim
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5 Planetary Protection and Human Missions to Mars
Pages 48-49

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From page 48...
... Curiosity has detected the presence of ancient organic molecules at Gale Crater and has detected methane in the atmosphere. While scientists have learned a great deal in the two decades since the Safe on Mars report, it remains essential that any proposed human landing site be evaluated and characterized in advance of human presence through both remote sensing and in situ experiments, to establish the zones of minimal biological risk.
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From page 49...
... , potential approaches to designing a planetary protection strategy for human missions include appropriate buffer zones between areas of human activity and locations of astrobiological significance, as well as continued scientific exploration and scientific understanding for life on Mars by humans and robotic technologies. Beyond that, the committee learned in briefings about the potential to use, where appropriate, in situ techniques to reduce contamination from activities undertaken by, and needed to sustain, humans.
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Key Terms

  • planetary protection
  • robotic missions
  • martian surface
  • protection policy
  • interim directive

  • protection strategy
  • support human
  • human operations
  • human presence
  • scientific exploration

  • precursor measurements
  • biological contamination
  • gaps identified
  • situ experiment
  • appropriate buffer

  • resources proves
  • missions involving
  • situ resource
  • scientific work
  • setting planetary

  • reasonably close
  • robotic technologies
  • biological risk
  • becoming harmful
  • situ experiments

  • implementation strategies
  • developed policy
  • restrictive bioburden
  • underdeveloped nature
  • expand scientific


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