How Difficult Will It Be to Remove Mars from the Planetary Protection Treaty?

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Thread starter lifeonmercury
Start date Feb 9, 2017
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Mars Planetary Protection

In summary, Planetary Protection is a set of guidelines and protocols aimed at preventing contamination of other planets by Earth's microorganisms and protecting Earth from potential extraterrestrial biological contamination. This is crucial for missions to Mars, as the planet is a prime target for exploration and could potentially host life. To enforce these guidelines, spacecraft are thoroughly sterilized and assembled in clean rooms, and landing sites are carefully chosen. While there are exceptions to these guidelines, they are carefully evaluated by the Committee on Space Research. Not following Planetary Protection guidelines could have severe consequences, including contamination of Mars and jeopardizing future scientific discoveries and the search for life on the planet.

Feb 9, 2017

lifeonmercury

In light of the strong desire to begin colonizing Mars in the near future, how easy will it be to remove Mars from the list of planets covered by the planetary protection treaty?

Last edited: Feb 9, 2017

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Feb 9, 2017

1oldman2

https://planetaryprotection.nasa.gov/ Doesn't appear to address the timeline or procedure. It appears to be a "wait and see" approach as research data matures.

1. What is Planetary Protection?

Planetary Protection is a set of guidelines and protocols put in place by space agencies, such as NASA, to prevent contamination of other planets or moons by Earth's microorganisms, and to protect Earth from potential extraterrestrial biological contamination.

2. Why is Planetary Protection important for Mars?

Mars is a prime target for space exploration due to its potential to host life and its similarities to Earth. It is crucial to ensure that any missions to Mars do not accidentally contaminate the planet with Earth's microorganisms, which could jeopardize future scientific discoveries and the search for indigenous life on Mars.

3. How is Planetary Protection enforced for missions to Mars?

For missions to Mars, spacecraft are thoroughly sterilized and undergo strict cleaning procedures to remove any potential biological contaminants. The spacecraft are also assembled in clean rooms to prevent contamination. Additionally, landing sites are carefully chosen to minimize the possibility of Earth microbes coming into contact with potential habitable regions on Mars.

4. Are there any exceptions to Planetary Protection guidelines?

There are some exceptions to Planetary Protection guidelines, such as for spacecraft that are sent on crash trajectories to Mars or for missions that have a low probability of contaminating Mars due to their short duration or limited contact with the planet's surface. However, these exceptions are carefully evaluated and approved by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) to ensure the risks are minimal.

5. What are the potential consequences of not following Planetary Protection guidelines?

If Planetary Protection guidelines are not followed, it could lead to contamination of Mars and jeopardize future scientific discoveries and the search for life on the planet. It could also have ethical implications, as we have a responsibility to protect any potential indigenous life on Mars from Earth's microorganisms. Furthermore, it could harm future missions to Mars, as the presence of Earth's microbes could interfere with the results of experiments and tests conducted by these missions.