Planetary Protection Guidelines

Planetary Protection Guidelines are protocols designed to prevent contamination between Earth and other celestial bodies. They ensure that missions exploring planets, moons, and asteroids do not accidentally transfer microbes or biological material that could harm extraterrestrial environments or compromise future scientific research. These guidelines aim to protect both Earth's biosphere and the integrity of space exploration, balancing scientific discovery with responsible stewardship of the cosmos. They include sterilization procedures for spacecraft and restrictions on sample return activities to minimize biological contamination.