The Planetary Protection Protocol: Preventing Mars Microbe Contamination

Did you know that some bacteria can survive the freezing vacuum and intense radiation of space for years while clinging to the outside of a metal ship? This biological toughness is why space agencies follow strict rules to keep Earth besides Mars from swapping germs. If a single resilient spore from a lab in Florida reaches a Martian pond, it could colonize the area before scientists ever find native life forms. You are looking at a massive effort to keep two different biospheres completely separate during every mission. NASA and the European Space Agency use these protocols to act as responsible explorers. Scientists want to ensure that any life they discover on the red planet actually belongs there, rather than being a stowaway from home - these rules guide every step of a mission, from the first bolt tightened in a clean room to the moment a capsule lands back in the desert.