Planetary Protection as a Crosscutting Consideration in Human Missions and Technologies Beyond Low Earth Orbit

Abstract

In considering future human exploration to varied destinations beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO), concerns about harmful contamination and planetary protection (PP) may impact mission requirements, capabilities and other activities. Already, for human missions to Mars and the Moon, planetary protection concerns are recognized as introducing cross- cutting technological and design challenges for spacecraft and vehicle systems, habitats, EVAs and suits, science exploration and operations, equipment maintenance and use, and even environmental management. Currently, PP policy and constraints are most stringent for round trip missions to Mars, but they may also be of varied relevance on missions to other target locations in order to minimize harmful contamination of the crew, science activities, the planetary body, and Earth upon return. While precise PP protocols will be developed in coming years for different target bodies and activities, it will be important that mission architects, designers and engineers become aware of international PP policies, which are not optional and are subject to revision in the face of new scientific information. Attention to PP in the early planning stages will help avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and costly redesign of critical elements and systems. This paper discusses PP policy in the context of human missions beyond LEO; highlights the important RT and provides information on workshops, literature and research of special relevance to Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS), as well as biomedical, and operational concerns.