SpaceRef - Astrobiology and Life Science - Planetary Protection

SpaceRef - Astrobiology and Life Science - Planetary Protection - Legal Aspects

International Law & Policy of Extraterrestrial Planetary Protection - By Darlene A. Cypser, Jurimetrics - Journal of Law, Science & Technology, vol. 33 No. 2 pp 315-339 Winter 1993. An abstract of a paper that deals with planetary protection in a historical and legal context.

NEPAnet - A collection of resources at the Department of Energy pertaining to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. NEPA requires all federal agencies to consider environmental values in the planning of agency actions and activities that may have an impact upon the human environment, before the action is taken. NASA will be required to adhere to these procedures in the development of planetary protection protocols.

NHB 8020.12B, NASA Handbook, "Quarantine Provisions for Unmanned Extraterrestrial Missions" - A key planetary protection document that sets forth requirements applicable to robotic planetary flight programs. These requirements are necessary to enable NASA to fulfill those responsibilities pertaining to planetary protection, as stated in NASA Policy Directive NPD 8020.7E, Biological Contamination Control for Outbound and Inbound Planetary Spacecraft. NASA Headquarters.

NMI 8020.7E, NASA Management Instruction, "Biological Contamination Control For Outbound and Inbound Planetary Spacecraft", February 19, 1999 - A key planetary protection document that establishes the NASA's policy regarding the biological contamination control for outbound and inbound planetary spacecraft. NASA Headquarters.

Planetary Protection Policy-NASA and COSPAR - This Appendix from the 1998 report "Evaluating the Biological Potential in Samples Returned from Planetary Satellites and Small Solar System Bodies" by the National Research Council Space Studies Board Task Group on Sample Return from Small Solar System Bodies describe the policies established by NASA and COSPAR and the directives in place at NASA to deal with the issue of planetary protection.

Summaries of NEPA, Associated Laws and Executive Orders - A collection of summaries and detailed descriptions of rules and regulations specified under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). General Services Administration. NASA will be required to adhere to these laws in the development of planetary protection protocols.