Planetary protection: Difference between revisions

 

For restricted Category V missions, the current recommendation<ref name=ESFsection12>[http://www.esf.org/fileadmin/Public_documents/Publications/MarsSampleReturn.pdf Mars Sample Return backward contamination – Strategic advice and requirements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819141409/http://www.esf.org/fileadmin/Public_documents/Publications/MarsSampleReturn.pdf |date=2013-08-19 }}- foreword and section 1.2</ref> is that no uncontained samples should be returned unless sterilized. Since sterilization of the returned samples would destroy much of their science value, current proposals involve containment and quarantine procedures. For details, see [[#Containment and quarantine for restricted Category V sample return|Containment and quarantine]] below. Category V missions also have to fulfill the requirements of Category IV to protect the target body from forward contamination.

 

 

 

1: “Remote” here implies the absence of environments where terrestrial organisms could survive and replicate, or a very low likelihood of transfer to environments where terrestrial organisms could survive and replicate.

 

* Callisto, comets, asteroids of category P, D, and C, Venus,<ref>[http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11584 Assessment of Planetary Protection Requirements for Venus Missions -- Letter Report]</ref> Kuiper belt objects (KBO) < 1/2 size of Pluto.