Guardians of the Cosmos: Scientists Battling Interplanetary Contamination
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) panel on planetary protection is responsible for formulating policies to prevent interplanetary contamination and ensuring the preservation of celestial bodies. The panel's Planetary Protection Policy defines categories based on the objectives of space missions and establishes requirements for contamination control. With the increasing involvement of national space agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities in space exploration, it is crucial to ensure compliance with this policy. COSPAR provides an international forum for scientific discussions and regularly updates the policy based on new scientific findings. The panel welcomes input from the international space community and aims to facilitate sustainable exploration of the solar system while preventing forward and backward contamination.