NASA Policy Directive: NPD 8020.7E Biological Contamination Control for Outbound and Inbound Planetary Spacecraft

NASA POLICY DIRECTIVE

1. POLICY

The conduct of scientific investigations of possible extraterrestrial life
forms, precursors, and remnants must not be jeopardized. In addition, the Earth
must be protected from the potential hazard posed by extraterrestrial matter
carried by a spacecraft returning from another planet or other extraterrestrial
sources. Therefore, for certain space-mission/target-planet combinations,
controls on organic and biological contamination carried by spacecraft shall be
imposed in accordance with directives implementing this policy.

2. APPLICABILITY

a. This directive applies to NASA Headquarters and NASA
Centers, including Component Facilities, and to NASA contractors where
specified by contract.

b. The provisions of this directive cover all space
flight missions which may intentionally or unintentionally carry Earth
organisms and organic constituents to the planets or other solar system bodies,
and any mission employing spacecraft which are intended to return to Earth
and/or its biosphere from extraterrestrial targets of exploration.

3. AUTHORITY

42 U.S.C. 2473(c)(1), Section 203(c)(1) of the National Aeronautics and
Space Act of 1958, as amended.

4. REFERENCES

a. Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, to
which the United States is a party, states in part that "…parties to the
Treaty shall pursue studies of outer space, including the Moon and other
celestial bodies, and conduct exploration of them so as to avoid their harmful
contamination and also adverse changes in the environment of the Earth
resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter and, where
necessary, shall adopt appropriate measures for this purpose…"
("Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the
Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial
Bodies" entered into force October 10, 1967. 18 U.S. Treaties and Other
International Agreements at 2410-2498.)

b. NPG 8020.12x, Planetary Protection Provisions for
Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions.

5. RESPONSIBILITY

a. The Associate Administrator for Space Science, or
designee, is responsible for overall administration of NASA’s planetary
protection policy. This includes the following:

(1) Maintaining the required activities in support of
the planetary protection policy at NASA Headquarters.

(2) Assuring that the research and technology activities
required to implement the planetary protection policy are conducted.

(3) Monitoring space flight missions as necessary to
meet the requirements for planetary protection certification.

b. The designee for managing and implementing this
policy is the Planetary Protection Officer, who is responsible for the
following:

(1) Prescribing standards, procedures, and guidelines
applicable to all NASA organizations, programs, and activities to achieve the
policy objectives of this directive.

(2) Certifying to the Associate Administrator for Space
Science and to the Administrator prior to launch; and (in the case of returning
spacecraft) prior to the return phase of the mission, prior to the Earth entry,
and again prior to approved release of returned materials, that–

(a) All measures have been taken to assure meeting NASA
policy objectives as established in this directive and all implementing
procedures and guidelines.

(b) The recommendations, as appropriate, of relevant
regulatory agencies with respect to planetary protection have been considered,
and pertinent statutory requirements have been fulfilled.

(c) The international obligations assessed by the Office
of the General Counsel and the Office of External Relations have been met, and
international implications have been considered.

(3) Conducting reviews, inspections, and evaluations of
plans, facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and practices of NASA
organizational elements and NASA contractors, as applicable, to discharge the
requirements of this directive.

(4) Keeping the Associate Administrator for Space
Science informed of developments and taking actions as necessary to achieve
conformance with applicable NASA policies, procedures, and guidelines.

c. The Associate Administrator for Space Flight and the
Associate Administrator for Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, or
designees, will ensure that applicable standards and procedures established
under this policyovidand detailed in subordinate implementing documents, are
incorporated into human space flight missions. Any exceptions will be requested
and justified to the Administrator through the Asociate Administrator for Space
Science.

d. Program Managers, through their respective Center
Director, are responsible for the following:

(1) Meeting the biological and organic contamination
control requirements of this directive and its subordinate and implementing
documents during the conduct of research, development, test, preflight, and
operational activities.

(2) Providing for the conduct of reviews, inspections,
and evaluations by the Planetary Protection Officer, pursuant to this
directive.

6. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

None.

7. MEASUREMENTS

Specific constraints imposed on spacecraft involved in solar system
exploration will depend on the nature of the mission and the identity of the
target body or bodies. These constraints will take into account current
scientific knowledge about the target bodies through recommendations from both
internal and external advisory groups, but most notably from the Space Studies
Board of the National Academy of Sciences. The most likely constraints on
missions of concern will be a requirement to reduce the biological
contamination of the spacecraft, coupled with constraints on spacecraft
operating procedures, an inventory of organic constituents of the spacecraft
and organic samples, and restrictions on the handling and methods by which
extraterrestrial samples are returned to Earth. In the majority of missions,
there will also be a requirement to document spacecraft flyby operations,
spacecraft impact potential, and the location of landings or impact points of
spacecraft on planetary surfaces or other bodies. Specific requirements
(reviews, documentation, and levels of cleanliness) are detailed in
implementing procedures and guidelines, primarily NPG 8020.12x, "Planetary
Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions," and will be
used to measure adherence to this directive.

8. CANCELLATION

NMI 8020.7D dated December 3, 1993.

/s/ Daniel S. Goldin



Administrator

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