They’re found on Mount Everest, in the deep seas, aboard the International Space Station and thousands of them have even crash landed and been spilled onto the moon. The microscopic […]
Planetary Protection & Biosafety
Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrobiology (general), Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Space Stations, Status Report
China Exoplanet Habitability and Ecosystem Space Experiment (CHEESE) On China’s Space Station (CSS)
The experiment of exo-ecosystem and the exploration of extraterrestrial habitability aims to explore the adaptation of terrestrial life in space conditions for the manned space program and the future interstellar […]
Posted inMars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
Planetary Protection Implementation and Verification Approach for the Mars 2020 Mission
The Perseverance rover was successfully delivered to Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. Among its science objectives, Perseverance is meant to search for rocks that are capable of preserving chemical […]
Posted inMissions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Societal Issues
Planetary Protection: Preventing Interplanetary Pollution That Could Pose A Threat To Life On Earth And Other Planets
Formulating policies for planetary protection issues and keeping them up-to-date is the responsibility of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) panel on planetary protection. In an article in Frontiers in […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report
Call For Membership On The Sample Receiving Project Measurement Definition Team for Mars Sample Return
The Measurement Definition Team for Mars Sample Return (MDT) is chartered to assess the measurement and instrumentation needs for the MSR Sample Receiving Project (SRP) facility that will process samples […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
Preparing The OSIRIS-REx Curation Laboratory At Johnson Space Center
If everything goes according to plan, OSIRIS-REx’s sample return capsule will separate from the spacecraft, enter the Earth’s atmosphere and parachute safely to Earth for recovery at the Department of […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Societal Issues, Status Report
Environmental Considerations In The Age Of Space Exploration: The Conservation And Protection Of Non-Earth Environments
This document is an abbreviated version of the law review, led by Alexander Q. Gilbert, entitled: “Major Federal Actions Significantly Affecting the Quality of the Space Environment: Applying NEPA to […]
Posted inMars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return, Societal Issues
National Environmental Policy Act – Mars Sample Return Campaign
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)] [Notices] [Pages 33919-33920] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2023-11156]
Posted inMeteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
NASA Support for Planetary Sample Science (SPSS) Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) and Questions and Answers (Q&A) Released
CAN/Q&A Release Date: May 11, 2023Number: NNH23ZDA017CStep-1 Proposals Due: June 12, 2023Step-2 Proposals Due: July 24, 2023Number: NNH23ZDA017C
Posted inAstrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Comets and Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return
OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Recovery Team Practices For Arrival
In anticipation of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample delivery this fall, the team held our first round of rehearsals April 17 to April 27. Our goal was to practice retrieving the […]