Curiosity rover may sample Mars water

[sghill]

Liquid water is one of the definitions for a special region. For special regions post Viking sterility is necessary. 0,03 spores per squaremeter. This is not what Curiosity was built for. The assembly in the large cleanroom with the garment used and without a final DHMR cycle this levels can not be reached. The text looks like NASA managment is looking for an OK from the PP Officer. From the regulations NASA has accepted this is impossible if they want to do it anyway they have to go through COSPAR and a amendment to the rules. I hope they get this through in the year they have until they reach the RLS.

Presumably this line of reasoning would prohibit any manned landing on Mars in close proximity to any significant water deposits? If so does that impact Elon Musks planned BFR manned landings? I think he has said the plan was to use Martian water for ISRU... is that workable with the current PP arrangements?

Exactly. Planetary protection goes out the window as soon as you discuss foot prints on Mars. It's the elephant in the room no one wants to admit.

[Blackstar]

Exactly. Planetary protection goes out the window as soon as you discuss foot prints on Mars. It's the elephant in the room no one wants to admit.

You should go to a planetary protection meeting sometime. They discuss this. It's not like these people are dumb and people on the internet are smart.

And there are no credible humans to Mars plans right now. So nobody is panicking.

[Slarty1080]

Exactly. Planetary protection goes out the window as soon as you discuss foot prints on Mars. It's the elephant in the room no one wants to admit.

You should go to a planetary protection meeting sometime. They discuss this. It's not like these people are dumb and people on the internet are smart.

And there are no credible humans to Mars plans right now. So nobody is panicking.

You're right, there is no desperate urgency, but what is the consensus on the issue of humans on Mars at these planetary protection meetings? How do they think the issue should be handled and what is their legal standing (NASA v private missions)?

[ccdengr]

what is the consensus on the issue of humans on Mars at these planetary protection meetings?

Feel free to read "NPI 8020.7: NASA Policy on Planetary Protection Requirements for Human Extraterrestrial Missions" at http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/OPD_docs/NPI_8020_7_.doc

There's lots of stuff at https://planetaryprotection.nasa.gov/documents that is more relevant to this thread.

[Dalhousie]

Exactly. Planetary protection goes out the window as soon as you discuss foot prints on Mars. It's the elephant in the room no one wants to admit.

It doesn't and it isn't.  Planetary protection it is just framed in a different way with somewhat different objectives.  But that's a different topic.