2 research outputs found
The COSPAR Planetary Protection Requirements for Space Missions to Mars
The Committee on Space Research’s (COSPAR) Planetary Protection Policy (herein referred to as the
Policy) has been developed through deliberation between the scientific community and the national
space agencies to 1) ensure that scientific investigations of possible extra-terrestrial life forms,
precursors, and remnants are not jeopardized; and 2) Earth is protected from the potential hazard
posed by extra-terrestrial matter carried by a spacecraft returning from an interplanetary mission
(COSPAR 2020).The COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection (herein referred to as the Panel)regularly
updates the Policy based on workshops and activities that are led by the community, or by national
committees. For example, the requirements for the icy moons of the outer Solar System have been
scrutinized as part of a European Commission’s H2020 Programme (Rettberg et al 2019) and a
National Research Council report (NRC 2012), which led to recommendations being made to
COSPAR, which resulted in an update to the regulations (COSPAR 2020). Another example is the
recent update of the regulations relating to the moon. The Panel conducted a dedicated community
consultation that led to an updated Policy (COSPAR, 2021). [...
THE COSPAR PLANETARY PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR SPACE MISSIONS TO MARS
The Committee on Space Research’s (COSPAR) Planetary Protection Policy (PPP) has been
developed through deliberation between the scientific community and the national space agencies within the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection. The rationale for the policy is to avoid
compromising the conduct of scientific investigations of possible extra-terrestrial life forms, precursors, and remnants, and to protect Earth from the potential hazard posed by extra-terrestrial
matter carried by a spacecraft returning from an inter-planetary mission. There are five planetary protection categories outlined in the policy, which are dependent on mission type, Solar
System bodies encountered during the mission and the mission objectives. [...