18th IAA Humans in Space Symposium (2011)
2277.pdf
Planetary Protection Policy and Guidelines for Human Exploration
Conley, C.A., Kminek, G, Rummel, J.D.
1
NASA HQ, Washington, DC
ESA ESTEC, Nordwijk, Netherlands
Center for Coastal Science and Policy, E. Carolina Univ., Greenville, S.C.
ABSTRACT
Concerns regarding the possibility that Earth contamination could confound the search for life in the solar
system were raised even before the advent of the Space Age. Policies and procedures for planetary
protection have developed alongside other frameworks for guiding the exploration of space. During the
past 50 years, a standard set of practices has been established and followed for all space missions
traveling beyond the Earth-Moon system. The Committee on Space Research of the International Council
for Science, through its standing Panel on Planetary Protection, maintains the international consensus
policy on planetary protection that cites Article IX of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty as the basis for
establishment. Principals and guidelines on planetary protection for human exploration were adopted by
the COSPAR bureau at the 2008 meeting in Montreal.