The Goals, Rationales, and Definition of Planetary Protection: Interim Report
2017

Interim

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Solar system exploration is in an extraordinary state of expansion. Scientific capabilities to search for evidence of extant or relic life outside Earth—among the principal goals of solar system exploration—are advancing rapidly. In this time of rapid transition in exploring solar system bodies, the importance of reexamining planetary protection policies, including the need for clarity in how NASA establishes such policies, has become more urgent. Overall, this study seeks to review the current state of planetary protection policy development, assess the responsiveness of the policy development process to contemporary and anticipated needs, and recommend actions that might assure the effectiveness of NASA's future coordination and execution of planetary protection. This interim report focuses on the goals of and rationales for planetary protection policies and suggests a working definition of planetary protection consistent with those goals. It does not address future commercial planetary missions, human missions to planetary bodies, or roles and responsibilities for implementing policies, but these issues will be addressed in the final report.

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34 pages · 8.5 x 11 ·
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-46160-X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/24809

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The Goals, Rationales, and Definition of Planetary Protection: Interim Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Front Matter i-xii
1 Introduction 1-1
2 Historical Origins of Planetary Protection Policies 2-3
3 The Outer Space Treaty 4-5
4 Goals of and Rationales for Planetary Protection Policies 6-10
5 Working Definition of Planetary Protection 11-11
6 Concluding Remarks 12-12
Appendixes 13-14
Appendix A: Statement of Task 15-16
Appendix B: Biographical Information for Committee Members 17-21
Appendix C: Presentations to the Committee 22-22

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The Goals, Rationales, and Definition of Planetary Protection: Interim Report (2017)

Chapter: 6 Concluding Remarks

Publication information

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The Goals, Rationales, and Definition of Planetary Protection: Interim Report (2017)

Chapter: 6 Concluding Remarks