Deep-space challenge
Planetary Protection for Crewed Missions
A human crew cannot be sterilised the way a robotic lander can, so people inevitably carry microbes with them. Protecting Mars from Earthly contamination — which could confuse the search for native life — while also guarding the crew against any possible Martian biology is a difficult balance unique to sending humans to another world.
Systems, programs & concepts
Knowledge connections
- Associated withPlanetary Protection
- Associated withForward Contamination
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.