Providing guidance and setting research priorities for planetary protection of outer solar system bodies - Update from the PPOSS project

Paper number

IAC-17,A1,6,x39775

Year

2017

Abstract

The PPOSS (Planetary Protection of Outer Solar System bodies) project, gathering seven European partner organisations, one international partner and one international observer intends to consider how planetary protection policy has been developed and is being implemented. This project is active since 1st January 2016 and. By the time of IAC 2017. Will have completed two important milestones that will be presented at the congress: the PPOSS planetary protection handbook and the PPOSS research white book. 

PPOSS planetary protection handbook - This handbook will be used to disseminate information about how to implement planetary protection in the context of space (exploration) missions. Besides the structure of the handbook, the presentation will depict the main lessons learnt from past missions and how these can help better preparing future endeavours. Production of the handbook is coordinated by the COSPAR Office. 

PPOSS Research White Book - This core element of the PPOSS project intends to identify and highlight the main research challenges and knowledge gaps related to proper management of planetary protection in the context of icy bodies and small bodies exploration. From a biological and an organic point of view, these challenges have been identified through a series of expert workshops held in the first half of 2017. The presentation will briefly summarise the process while full detail on the foresight would be (if accepted) presented through the presentation of Dr. Rettberg ‘Search for life on icy moons – what do we need to know for planetary protection?’. The production of the PPOSS Research White Book is coordinated by DLR. 

The presentation will also provide further update on the policy challenges raised by icy bodies planetary protection and how the PPOSS project will contribute to better addressing these, in particular through the formulation of policy recommendation to be discussed and endorsed through international forums. 

The PPOSS project (Planetary Protection of Outer Solar System bodies) is supported by European Community’s Horizon 2020 under Grant Agreement n°687373

Abstract document

IAC-17,A1,6,x39775.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)