Press Release
From: White House
Posted: Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Today, the National Space Council released the National Strategy for Planetary Protection. This Strategy will advance the Nation's role in the sustainable exploration of space by appropriately protecting other planetary bodies and the Earth from potentially harmful biological contamination from space exploration activities.
Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council Scott Pace, Ph.D., and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Kelvin Droegemeier, Ph.D., released the following statements:
Scott Pace, Ph.D., said: “Current and future missions to Mars and other destinations necessitate a strategy to support a safe, sustainable, and predictable Earth and space environment. By establishing objectives for the implementation of the 2020 National Space Policy’s direction on planetary protection, this strategy continues American leadership in scientific discovery, human exploration, and private sector space activities.”
Kelvin Droegemeier, Ph.D., said: “The United States has made amazing strides in space exploration and with these great strides comes a responsibility to protect Earth and other planetary bodies from biological contamination. This Strategy upholds our Nation’s values, advances scientific discovery in space, and supports private sector activities through sustainable and safe means. I am grateful for the work of the Trump Administration to further American leadership in space.”
Background:
Planetary protection refers to the policy and practice of protecting scientific investigations by limiting biological contamination of other planetary bodies and protecting the Earth’s biosphere by avoiding harmful biological contamination by returning spacecraft. This national strategy balances U.S. interests in promoting scientific discovery, human exploration, and the growth of private sector space activities, all with due consideration for public safety and applicable domestic and international obligations.
Highlights of the National Strategy for Planetary Protection:
Click here for a fact sheet on the National Strategy for Planetary Protection.
Click here for text of the National Strategy for Planetary Protection.
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