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. 2019 Aug;19(8):951-974.
doi: 10.1089/ast.2018.1996. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Biological Contamination Prevention for Outer Solar System Moons of Astrobiological Interest: What Do We Need to Know?

Petra Rettberg  1 , André Antunes  2 , John Brucato  3 , Patricia Cabezas  4 , Geoffrey Collins  5 , Alissa Haddaji  6 , Gerhard Kminek  6 , Stefan Leuko  1 , Susan McKenna-Lawlor  7 , Christine Moissl-Eichinger  8 , Jean-Louis Fellous  5 , Karen Olsson-Francis  9 , David Pearce  10 , Elke Rabbow  1 , Samuel Royle  11 , Mark Saunders  12 , Mark Sephton  11 , Andy Spry  13 , Nicolas Walter  4 , Robert Wimmer Schweingruber  14 , Jean-Charles Treuet  15
Affiliations

Biological Contamination Prevention for Outer Solar System Moons of Astrobiological Interest: What Do We Need to Know?

Petra Rettberg et al. Astrobiology. 2019 Aug.

Abstract

To ensure that scientific investments in space exploration are not compromised by terrestrial contamination of celestial bodies, special care needs to be taken to preserve planetary conditions for future astrobiological exploration. Significant effort has been made and is being taken to address planetary protection in the context of inner Solar System exploration. In particular for missions to Mars, detailed internationally accepted guidelines have been established. For missions to the icy moons in the outer Solar System, Europa and Enceladus, the planetary protection requirements are so far based on a probabilistic approach and a conservative estimate of poorly known parameters. One objective of the European Commission-funded project, Planetary Protection of Outer Solar System, was to assess the existing planetary protection approach, to identify inherent knowledge gaps, and to recommend scientific investigations necessary to update the requirements for missions to the icy moons.

Keywords: Enceladus; Europa; Icy moons; Planetary protection; Requirements; Spacecraft.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Microbial characteristics of relevant microorganisms for future missions to the outer Solar System.
<b>FIG. 2.</b>
FIG. 2.
Relevant organisms with the potential to contaminate icy moons (“problematic species”) as a so far unknown subpopulation of the overall clean room microbiome.
<b>FIG. 3.</b>
FIG. 3.
The ESA bioburden standard assay for swabs (ECSS-Q-ST-70-55C).
<b>FIG. 4.</b>
FIG. 4.
Suggested new standard assay for problematic species.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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