International Journal of Astrobiology

Table of Contents - 2004 - Volume 3, Issue 03  


Biological contamination studies of lunar landing sites: implications for future planetary protection and life detection on the Moon and Mars

D.P. Glavin a1c1, J.P. Dworkin a1, M. Lupisella a1, G. Kminek a2 and J.D. Rummel a3
a1 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 915, 691 and 584, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA e-mail: daniel.p.glavin@nasa.gov
a2 European Space Agency, DG-X, Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
a3 NASA Headquarters, Science Mission Directorate, Washington DC 20546, USA

Article author query
glavin dp   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
dworkin jp   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
lupisella m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
kminek g   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
rummel jd   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Chemical and microbiological studies of the impact of terrestrial contamination of the lunar surface during the Apollo missions could provide valuable data to help refine future Mars surface exploration plans and planetary protection requirements for a human mission to Mars. NASA and ESA have outlined new visions for solar system exploration that will include a series of lunar robotic missions to prepare for and support a human return to the Moon, and future human exploration of Mars and other destinations. Under the Committee on Space Research's (COSPAR's) current planetary protection policy for the Moon, no decontamination procedures are required for outbound lunar spacecraft. Nonetheless, future in situ investigations of a variety of locations on the Moon by highly sensitive instruments designed to search for biologically derived organic compounds would help assess the contamination of the Moon by lunar spacecraft and Apollo astronauts. These studies could also provide valuable ‘ground truth’ data for Mars sample return missions and help define planetary protection requirements for future Mars bound spacecraft carrying life detection experiments.

(Published Online February 25 2005)
(Received June 8 2004)
(Accepted June 24 2004)


Key Words: Apollo; biological contamination; biomarkers; Luna; Mars; Moon; organic contamination; planetary protection; Ranger; spacecraft sterilization.

Correspondence:
c1 Corresponding author.