Advancing the COSPAR Policy and planetary protection guidelines for a safe and sustainable exploration

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Abstract

Planetary protection is a set of measures agreed upon at an international level to ensure the protection of scientific investigation during space exploration and planetary missions. In this framework, the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) provides since 1967 the international standard and guidelines for such measures as well as a forum for international consultation and exchange of information. COSPAR has formulated a Planetary Protection Policy with associated guidelines for responsible space exploration with planetary missions. Although not legally binding under international law, the standard offered by the Policy is internationally endorsed along with implementation guidelines supplied for reference in support States' compliance with Article IX of the UN Outer Space Treaty. Indeed, States parties to the Outer Space Treaty (under Article VI) are responsible for any space activities under their jurisdiction, governmental and non-governmental. The main goal of this Policy is to avoid compromising the search for any lifeforms on other celestial bodies and to protect the Earth from a potential threat posed by extraterrestrial samples returned by an inter-planetary mission. The COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy has defined five categories, depending on the target and objective of the specific space mission, and requirements with various degrees of rigor in the contamination control applied. The COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP) is a designated international committee composed of scientists and space experts, as well as 12 agency representatives. Its role is to support and revise the COSPAR Policy and its related requirements (https://cosparhq.cnes.fr/scientific-structure/panels/panel-on-planetary-protection-ppp/). The Panel's activities deal with the individual needs of a space mission while exercising swift care and expertise to ensure sustainable exploration of the Solar System. In this paper we present recent considerations on the Venus and small bodies requirements, as well as advances and updates of the Policy as concerns the Moon, Mars and icy worlds. The Policy is assessed regularly and updated with new scientific findings and in conjunction with the fast-evolving space exploration milieu. The most recent update was published in July 2024 with a special editorial effort.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress Iac

First Page

12

Last Page

22

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