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 […]
Planetary Protection & Biosafety
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 […]
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
How Dormant Bacteria Come Back To Life
Solving a riddle that has confounded biologists since bacterial spores — inert, sleeping bacteria — were first described more than 150 years ago, researchers at Harvard Medical School have discovered […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
NASA DRAFT Cooperative Agreement Notice Released for Comment Support for Planetary Sample Science (SPSS)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released a draft Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) entitled “Support for Planetary Sample Science (SPSS)” for public comment.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release
NASA Seeks Members For The Mars Sample Receiving Project Measurement Definition Team
NASA and ESA are planning to charter a Measurement Definition Team (MDT) to assess the measurement and instrumentation needs for the high-containment Mars Sample Return Sample Receiving Project facility to […]