Stopping hitchhikers from reaching Mars
FEB 11, 2009
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.023054
Science : The international Committee on Space Research ( COSPAR ) has established a “planetary protection” policy that involves not contaminating other worlds in a way that would jeopardize the conduct of future scientific investigations. As a signatory to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty , the US is required by article IX to avoid “harmful contamination” of the other worlds of the solar system. However, further revisions to the policy are needed.
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© 2009 American Institute of Physics
