1. Planetary Protection at NASA
Presented by Dr. J. Andy Spry, SETI Inst.

2. Table of Contents Historical Development
Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA
Document Hierarchy
Implementation History

3. Over 50 Years of International Effort
• Sept. 1956: International Astronautical Federation meets in Rome, discussing lunar and planetary contamination
• Feb. 1958: International Council for Science (ICSU) forms committee on Contamination by ExtraTerrestrial Exploration (CETEX)
• June 1958: National Academies of Science establishes the Space Studies Board
• July 1958: Formation of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Oct. 1958: Formation of COSPAR by ICSU
• July 1958: Formation of UN-COPUOS
• : Publication of guidelines by the US, USSR, COSPAR
• 1963: NASA acquires the first ‘Planetary Quarantine Officer’ – on loan from the Public Health Service

4. Advice to NASA’s New Planetary Quarantine Officer
ACCORD THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO THE PREVENTION
OF THE BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF MARS UNTIL
SUFFICIENT INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED ABOUT
POSSIBLE LIFE FORMS THERE SO THAT FURTHER
SCIENTIFIC STUDIES WILL NOT BE JEOPARDIZED.
SPACE SCIENCE BOARD
AUGUST 5, 1963
(Pre-dates knowledge of Europa and Enceladus as bodies of significant interest with respect to chemical evolution/origin of life in the solar system, that are now similarly regarded)

5. Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA (1)
Outer Space Treaty
NASA
PPOfficer
Programs
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3

6. Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA (2)
Interpretation
Outer Space Treaty Compliance
COSPAR
Consensus International
Policy
US National Academies
NASA
Advice
Policy
PPOfficer
Programs
Levies Requirements
Oversight
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3

7. Organization of Planetary Protection within NASA (3)
Interpretation
Outer Space Treaty Compliance
COSPAR
Consensus International
Policy
US National Academies
NASA
NASA Advisory Council (NAC)
Advice & Recommendations
Advice
Policy
Advice & Recommendations
Planetary Protection Sub-Committee (PPS)
PPOfficer
Programs
Levies Requirements
Oversight
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3

8. Document Hierarchy* NASA Planetary Protection Policy NPD8020.7
Policy goals and authority (“why”)
NASA Planetary Protection Procedural Requirements for Robotic Missions**
NPR
Requirements to demonstrate compliance with Policy goals (“what”)
NASA Technical Standard for Planetary
Protection
NASA-STD-6022
Protocols and specifications achieve compliance with Policy goals (“how”)
* With relocation from SMD to OSMA, the OPP Documentation is outdated in terms of roles and responsibilities, and will be undergoing revision in the coming months.
** Although the NASA Policy recognizes the need to also comply with COSPAR policy and guidelines for crewed missions, the previous NPR has lapsed. A replacement is under development per NPI that describes the path to reinstating requirements for a future human mission to Mars

9. Planetary Protection at NASA Key Points
NASA has maintained compliance with the Outer Space Treaty by following COSPAR Policy.
The NASA PPO levies requirements on projects via usual project requirements flowdown, then monitors compliance.
NASA receives independent advice and guidance to maintain up to date policies and practice.
Projects interpret and implement requirements to achieve compliance at time of launch.
NASA’s previous missions show a history of implementation practice to achieve compliance with planetary protection policy