Discussion Planetary Protection Policy

[Keatah]

A simple thing that is overlooked in manned mars missions. The Planetary Protection Policy.

It seems that we sterilize and seal all the probes prior to launch. To prevent contamination of the environment by earthly bugs. What happens if people go there? With all their outgassings and farting and things like that. How can the environment not be contaminated? All it would take would be a tiny undetectable leak in a suit and the whole planet is now spoiled with earth microbes. How does nasa intend to contend with that?

 

[Zachstar]

Simple. They should not.

We do not contaminate the planets because we want to see if we can find life that is not just earth life adapting. When we land humans that policy should end. We can't just say "Oh there is a few single cell organisms here this planet is off limits."

When (As in hundreds of years down the line) we start seriously colonizing the planets. It will be impossible to even remotely try to prevent contamination.

 

[Tommy]

I agree. If we do set foot on another planet, it is inevitable that we will contaminate it sooner or later (most likely sooner). When we seal a probe, it's not so much about protecting the planet as it is trying to avoid contaminating samples and rendering them useless.

 

[Unstung]

The only place in the foreseeable future that humans would visit is Mars, which may host life unlike the moon. By then, it's likely a sample return mission would have been preformed or further unmanned missions would have tried, as best as possible, to determine if life really exists on Mars. From there, contamination is imminent.

 

[N_Molson]

That would be interesting to send a manned mission to analyze in detail soil samples from one of the Apollo landing sites.

 

[Urwumpe]

actually, such a policy exists at NASA and ESA....

 

[FADEC]

There is only one way to protect a planet from "human contamination": stay away from it.

 

[T.Neo]

Anyone here know about ICAMSR- the International Committee Against Mars Sample Return?

I fear they have watched far too many hollywood movies. :facepalm: