A Systems-Level Approach to Planetary Protection at Europa
Abstract
We are on the precipice of one or more missions to explore Europa and other ocean worlds. However, there are unique challenges in responsibly exploring worlds that are potentially rich in endogenous ecosystems and habitable niches. In order to protect Europa from forward contamination, and to achieve science goals that include assessing its habitability and searching for life, a more sophisticated approach to planetary protection is required than is reflected in current planetary protection paradigms. Significant progress has been made in the past decade to bound the nature and formation of Europa's surface features, its ice shell and ocean processes, and surface environment that should form the foundation for placing statistical bounds on the timescales over which contamination might occur. We seek to provide the basis for revising COSPAR's planetary protection policies for Europa in short order, so as to enable ethically and scientifically responsible exploration in the near future. At present, planetary protection for Europa does not include consideration of its geological processes, whereas for Mars, geological timescales are integrated into COSPAR policies. The categorization of special regions on Mars has enabled progress in exploring its surface and subsurface, and thus provides a case study for how policies for Europa might be developed. For Europa, current requirements place restrictions on all missions that exceed those for Mars surface missions. A well-justified risk posture for future spacecraft exploration of Europa should include full consideration of how the ice shell works. Here we review accomplishments in understanding Europa's geophysical processes and surface environments, including all published models, and explore the impact of these discoveries on planetary protection, including considering the viability of potential contaminating organisms. We recommend strategies for calculating potential forward contamination, and for the establishment of Europan special regions.
- Publication:
-
42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018cosp...42E3021S