Recent changes in the NASA Office of Planetary Protection
Abstract
NASA has been active in the implementation of planetary quarantine/protection practices and policies since the 1950's when both COSPAR and NASA were founded. In 2017, NASA moved primary responsibility for planetary protection from the Science Mission Directorate to the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance. Reorganization within NASA allows for closer coordination between the Planetary Protection Office and the expanding technical needs of robotic and human spaceflight missions to comply with planetary protection requirements. In addition to supporting numerous missions, the Planetary Protection Office is NASA's focal point for interactions with COSPAR and other international agencies on matters related to terrestrial biological contamination during exploration of other planetary bodies and to extraterrestrial contamination of Earth during sample return. Research on scientific knowledge for planetary protection and development of advanced methods for life detection will be collaboratively managed by the science mission directorates and the Planetary Protection Office.
- Publication:
-
42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018cosp...42E2726P