Planetary Protection at NASA Presented by Dr J

Planetary Protection at NASA Presented by Dr. J. Andy Spry, SETI Inst.

Table of Contents Ø Historical Development Ø Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA Ø Document Hierarchy Ø Implementation History

Over 50 Years of International Effort • Sept. 1956: International Astronautical Federation meets in Rome, discussing lunar and planetary contamination • Feb. 1958: International Council for Science (ICSU) forms committee on Contamination by Extra. Terrestrial Exploration (CETEX) • June 1958: National Academies of Science establishes the Space Studies Board • July 1958: Formation of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) • Oct. 1958: Formation of COSPAR by ICSU • July 1958: Formation of UN-COPUOS • 1959 -1962: Publication of guidelines by the US, USSR, COSPAR • 1963: NASA acquires the first ‘Planetary Quarantine Officer’ – on loan from the Public Health Service

Advice to NASA’s New Planetary Quarantine Officer ACCORD THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO THE PREVENTION OF THE BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF MARS UNTIL SUFFICIENT INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED ABOUT POSSIBLE LIFE FORMS THERE SO THAT FURTHER SCIENTIFIC STUDIES WILL NOT BE JEOPARDIZED. (Pre-dates knowledge of Europa and Enceladus as bodies of significant interest with respect to chemical evolution/origin of life in the solar system, that are now similarly regarded) SPACE SCIENCE BOARD AUGUST 5, 1963

Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA (1) Outer Space Treaty NASA PPOfficer Programs Project 1 Project 2 Project 3

Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA (2) COSPAR US National Academies Interpretation Consensus International Policy Outer Space Treaty Compliance NASA Advice Policy PPOfficer Oversight Programs Levies Requirements Project 1 Project 2 Project 3

Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA (3) COSPAR US National Academies Interpretation Consensus International Policy Outer Space Treaty Compliance NASA Advice Policy PPOfficer Programs Advice & Recommendations NASA Advisory Council (NAC) Advice & Recommendations Planetary Protection Sub. Committee (PPS) Levies Requirements Oversight Project 1 Project 2 Project 3

Document Hierarchy* NASA Planetary Protection Policy NPD 8020. 7 Policy goals and authority (“why”) NASA Planetary Protection Procedural Requirements for Robotic Missions** NPR 8020. 12 Requirements to demonstrate compliance with Policy goals (“what”) NASA Technical Standard for Planetary Protection NASA-STD-6022 Protocols and specifications achieve compliance with Policy goals (“how”) * With relocation from SMD to OSMA, the OPP Documentation is outdated in terms of roles and responsibilities, and will be undergoing revision in the coming months. ** Although the NASA Policy recognizes the need to also comply with COSPAR policy and guidelines for crewed missions, the previous NPR has lapsed. A replacement is under development per NPI 8020. 7 that describes the path to reinstating requirements for a future human mission to Mars

Planetary Protection at NASA Key Points • NASA has maintained compliance with the Outer Space Treaty by following COSPAR Policy. • The NASA PPO levies requirements on projects via usual project requirements flowdown, then monitors compliance. • NASA receives independent advice and guidance to maintain up to date policies and practice. • Projects interpret and implement requirements to achieve compliance at time of launch. • NASA’s previous missions show a history of implementation practice to achieve compliance with planetary protection policy