planetary protection
NASA implements changes to planetary protection policies for moon and Mars missions
NASA announced July 9 two new directives regarding planetary protection for missions to the moon and Mars that implement recommendations of an independent review board last year.
NASA encourages industry to develop spacecraft cleanliness standards
As part of its planetary protection campaign, NASA is encouraging companies to establish a working group to establish standards to ensure spacecraft do not accidentally transfer extra-terrestrial life to Earth.
Report calls for changes in planetary protection policies
An independent report is calling on NASA to update decades’ old planetary protection policies to reflect changing knowledge of solar system habitability and to enable future exploration by both the space agency and commercial entities.
Committee to review NASA planetary protection policies
NASA will establish an independent committee to review its planetary protection policies to reflect new developments in human space exploration and commercial spaceflight.
Committee recommends review of planetary protection policies
The NASA Advisory Council has recommended that NASA review its existing planetary protection guidelines to balance the needs of science and exploration, an effort that could set the stage for a similar revision at the international level.
Advisory committee seeks to enhance commercial space activities
A new advisory committee has proposed a set of recommendations to NASA in areas ranging from export control to advertising to enhance commercial activities in space.
Report recommends NASA revise its planetary protection policies
NASA’s approaches to planetary protection are outdated in an era of more ambitious missions and emergence of private space exploration ventures and thus need to be revised, a new report concludes.
New NASA planetary protection officer seeks greater cooperation with human and commercial missions
NASA's new planetary protection officer is open to reexamining how the agency deals with both government and commercial missions to Mars and other potentially habitable worlds in the solar system.
