Planetary Protection
Planetary protection is the term given to the practice of protecting solar system bodies (i.e., planets, moons, comets, and asteroids) from contamination by Earth life, and protecting Earth from possible life forms that may be returned from other solar system bodies. Compliance with planetary protection is required by NASA, as per NASA Policy Directive 8020.7 (NPD 8020.7).
More information about planetary protection can be found at the following websites:
- Website for the Office of Planetary Protection
- About Planetary Protection
- Planetary Protection Categories
- NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) for Planetary Protection (NPR 8020.12)
- Planetary Protection Subcommittee
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| Collecting Microbial Samples from Spacecraft | Growing and Characterizing Spacecraft-Associated Microorganisms | Assisting in Building Compliant Spacecraft | Protecting Planetary Bodies that are of Interest to Chemical Evolution and the Origin of Life |