Highlights Planetary protection has been recognized as most important issues in sample return missions. How to reduce the potential risk of biological back-contamination with public consensus. “International waters” are useful options for sample retrieval procedure. The research vessel will support onboard biosafety procedures. Display Omitted
Abstract Planetary protection has been recognized as one of the most important issues in sample return missions that may host certain living forms and biotic signatures in a returned sample. This paper proposes an initiative of sample capsule retrieval and onboard biosafety protocol in international waters for future biological and organic constituent missions to bring samples from possible habitable bodies in the solar system. We suggest the advantages of international waters being outside of national jurisdiction and active regions of human and traffic affairs on the condition that we accept the Outer Space Treaty. The scheme of onboard biological quarantine definitely reduces the potential risk of back-contamination of extraterrestrial materials to the Earth.
Planetary protection on international waters: An onboard protocol for capsule retrieval and biosafety control in sample return mission
Advances in Space Research ; 53 , 7 ; 1135-1142
2013-12-28
8 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
COSPAR , Committee on Space Research , PPP , Panel on Planetary Protection , R/V , research vessel , BSL , biosafety level , UNCLOS , United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , OST , Outer Space Treaty , WHO , World Health Organization , Planetary protection , International waters , Onboard protocols , Ongoing chemical evolution , Unexplored biosphere