Planetary Protection and Mars Special Regions—A Suggestion for Updating the Definition
- Rettberg, Petra
- Anesio, Alexandre M.
- Baker, Victor R.
- Baross, John A.
- Cady, Sherry L.
- Detsis, E.
- Foreman, Christine M.
- Hauber, Ernst
- Ori, Gian Gabriele
- Pearce, David A.
- Renno, Nilton O.
- Ruvkun, Gary
- Sattler, Birgit
- Saunders, Mark P.
- Smith, David H.
- Wagner, Dirk
- Westall, Frances
DOIAbstract
We highlight the role of COSPAR and the scientific community in defining and updating the framework of planetary protection. Specifically, we focus on Mars ‘‘Special Regions,’’ areas where strict planetary protection measures have to be applied before a spacecraft can explore them, given the existence of environmental conditions that may be conducive to terrestrial microbial growth. We outline the history of the concept of Special Regions and inform on recent developments regarding the COSPAR policy, namely, the MEPAG SRSAG2 review and the Academies and ESF joint committee report on Mars Special Regions. We present some new issues that necessitate the update of the current policy and provide suggestions for new definitions of Special...
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