| Literature DB >> 26848950 |
Petra Rettberg1, Alexandre M Anesio2, Victor R Baker3, John A Baross4, Sherry L Cady5, Emmanouil Detsis6, Christine M Foreman7, Ernst Hauber8, Gian Gabriele Ori9, David A Pearce10, Nilton O Renno11, Gary Ruvkun12, Birgit Sattler13, Mark P Saunders14, David H Smith15, Dirk Wagner16, Frances Westall17.
Abstract
We highlight the role of COSPAR and the scientific community in defining and updating the framework of planetary protection. Specifically, we focus on Mars "Special Regions," areas where strict planetary protection measures have to be applied before a spacecraft can explore them, given the existence of environmental conditions that may be conducive to terrestrial microbial growth. We outline the history of the concept of Special Regions and inform on recent developments regarding the COSPAR policy, namely, the MEPAG SR-SAG2 review and the Academies and ESF joint committee report on Mars Special Regions. We present some new issues that necessitate the update of the current policy and provide suggestions for new definitions of Special Regions. We conclude with the current major scientific questions that remain unanswered regarding Mars Special Regions.Mesh：
Year: 2016 PMID： 26848950 DOI： 10.1089/ast.2016.1472
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Astrobiology ISSN： 1557-8070 Impact factor: 4.335