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Planetary protection officer

Planetary Protection Officer (PPO) is the leading position in the [planetary protection] branch of [NASA]'s [Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA)]. Their task is to minimize the risk of contaminating the environments of extraterrestrial bodies in the solar system with organisms and organic materials from Earth, as well as the risk of returning spacecraft contaminating Earth's environment with any organic constituents that may be found on other solar system bodies. They are responsible for establishing the standards of sterilization for spacecraft components as well as the permitted degree of interaction between spacecraft instruments and the physical environments of other bodies in the solar system. These parameters are derived from NASA's established planetary protection requirements in compliance with international policy for planetary protection as dictated by the [1967 Outer Space Treaty].

"Planetary protection"

The term "planetary protection" refers to the efforts of NASA and other space agencies to avoid contaminating other bodies in the solar system with organisms or organic material from Earth which may settle on the components of spacecraft bound for those bodies. This also includes similar efforts to prevent materials from other bodies, which may find their way onto a spacecraft during its mission, from contaminating the Earth.

Duties

A Planetary Protection Officer is responsible for upholding NASA's planetary protection policies and ensuring that all planned space flight missions follow them. They must act as an advisor to all matters involving planetary protection, including interacting with other organizations that share similar interests.

Qualifications

Planetary Protection Officers must have extensive, demonstratable knowledge of planetary protection, as well as advanced engineering and technical expertise, and skills in diplomacy and making rational decisions in stressful or complex situations.

Position history

John Rummel – (1986-1993 and 1999-2006)

[Catharine Conley] – (2006-2018)

[Lisa Pratt] – (2018-present)

Planetary protection policies

NPD (NASA Policy Directive) 8020.7G

Compliant with the planetary protection policies of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, this directive officially states that measures must be taken to mitigate organic contamination of spacecraft bound for other solar system bodies.

NPR (NASA Procedural Requirements) 8020.12D

This document details the specific standards a spacecraft must meet to satisfy planetary protection requirements as well as the necessary steps to be taken in the event that contamination of either Earth or another solar body becomes a possibility.

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