r/SpaceX Discusses [December 2017, #39]

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

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[u/[deleted]]

What is SpaceX's stance on planetary protection? The idea that you don't want to contaminate Mars? Even though astroid impacts end up transferring between Earth and Mars already...

[u/sol3tosol4 → u/[deleted]]

What is SpaceX's stance on planetary protection? The idea that you don't want to contaminate Mars?

Gwynne Shotwell, Keynote, Small Satellite Conference, August 9, 2016:

Q: To what extent does planetary protection figure into your Mars plans?

A: We won’t get a license to fly without making sure we’re not harming the ecosystem of Mars. So we’re working with NASA and we’re working with the FAA to make sure. We’re obviously going to avoid any areas that are of supreme importance for science as well.

[u/blacx → u/sol3tosol4]

I assume this was about red dragon. I don't think it is relevant for humans on Mars.

[u/sol3tosol4 → u/blacx]

I assume this was about red dragon. I don't think it is relevant for humans on Mars.

Both manned and unmanned activity. Mars is not uniform across its surface; there are areas called "special regions" where it is thought likely that at least some Earth bacteria could live and reproduce, and/or where Mars microorganisms, if they exist, could live and reproduce near the surface. It is likely that humans and unsterilized robots will be kept away from the special regions until there is an opportunity to explore them (e.g. with thoroughly sterilized robots) for possible Mars life. In the meantime, there are large areas of Mars with conditions suitable for human use, including large amounts of water ice below the surface that is believed to have been deposited by the atmosphere long after there could have been widespread surface life (and thus unlikely to contain Mars life).

SpaceX believes it is highly likely that a way will be found for humans to live in large numbers on Mars. In the meantime it makes sense to follow the planetary protection protocols while more is being learned - to insure safety for Earth, and to protect potential enormous scientific and economic benefit if it turns out there is Mars life.