Amendment 28: C.15 PPR deferred to ROSES-2017

Planetary protection involves preventing biological contamination on both outbound and sample return missions to other planetary bodies. Numerous areas of research in astrobiology/exobiology are improving our understanding of the potential for survival of Earth microbes in extraterrestrial environments, relevant to preventing contamination of other bodies by organisms carried on spacecraft. Research is required to improve NASA's understanding of the potential for both forward and backward contamination, how to minimize it, and to set standards in these areas for spacecraft preparation and operating procedures. Improvements in technologies and methods for evaluating the potential for life in returned samples are also of interest.

Program element C.15 Planetary Protection Researchwill not be solicited in ROSES-2016, but it is anticipated that it will be solicited in ROSES-2017.

Questions concerning this program element may be directed to Catharine Conley at cassie.conley@nasa.gov