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Planetary protection issues in advance of human exploration of MarsThe major planetary quarantine issues associated with human exploration of Mars, which is viewed as being more likely to harbor indigenous life than is the moon, are discussed. Special attention is given to the environmental impact of human missions to Mars due to contamination and mechanical disturbances of the local environment, the contamination issues associated with the return of humans, and the planetary quarantine strategy for a human base. It is emphasized that, in addition to the question of indigenous life, there may be some concern of returning to earth the earth microorganisms that have spent some time in the Martian environment. It is suggested that, due to the fact that a robot system can be subjected to more stringent controls and protective treatments than a mission involving humans, a robotic sample return mission can help to eliminate many planetary-quarantine concerns about returning samples.
Document ID
19890064157
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mckay, Christopher P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Davis, Wanda L.
(Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute Los Altos, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary Biology and Origins of Life, 20th, 21st, and 23rd, Espoo, Finland, July 18-29, 1988) Advances in Space Research
ISSN: 0273-1177
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
89A51528
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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