Evaluating the biological potential in samples returned from planetary satellites and small solar system bodies : framework for decision making / Task Group on Sample Return from Small Solar System Bodies, Space Studies Board, Commission on Physical Sciences Mathematics and Applications, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Task Group on Sample Return from Small Solar System Bodies.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Planetary quarantine.

Exobiology.

Space microbiology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (116 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1998.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

For the first time since the Apollo program, NASA and space agencies abroad have plans to bring samples to Earth from elsewhere in the solar system. There are missions in various stages of definition to gather material over the next decade from Mars, an asteroid, comets, the satellites of Jupiter, and the interplanetary dust. Some of these targets, most especially Jupiter's satellites Europa and Ganymede, now appear to have the potential for harboring living organisms. This book considers the possibility that life may have originated or existed on a body from which a sample might be taken and the possibility that life still exists on the body either in active form or in a form that could be reactiviated. It also addresses the potential hazard to terrestrial ecosystems from extraterrestrial life if it exists in a returned sample. Released at the time of the Internationl Committee on Space Research General Assembly, the book has already established the basis for plans for small body sample retruns in the international space research community.

Contents:

Evaluating the Biological Potential in Samples Returned from Planetary Satellites and Small Solar Sy...

Copyright

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgment of Reviewers

Contents

Executive Summary

STUDY APPROACH

FINDINGS

Planetary Satellites

Asteroids

Comets

Cosmic Dust

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Containment of Returned Samples

Handling of Returned Samples

Scientific Investigations to Reduce Uncertainty

REFERENCES

1 Introduction

SCOPE AND APPROACH OF THIS STUDY

CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF ORIGINS, CONTINUANCE, AND SURVIVAL OF TERRESTRIALLIFE FORMS-A SYNOPSIS

Early Earth as a Model for the Origins of Self-replicating Life Forms

Viability of Microorganisms

Factors That Influence the Survival of Metabolically Active Cells

Factors That Affect the Survival of Dormant Microorganisms

QUESTIONS APPROPRIATE FOR ASSESSING THE BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF SMALL BODIES

CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT

2 Natural Influx and Cross-Contamination

NATURAL INFLUX TO EARTH

PROCESSES OF DELIVERY FROM DIVERSE PARENT BODIES

CROSS-CONTAMINATION

SUMMARY

3 Planetary Satellites Inside Jupiter's Orbit

ORIGIN, COMPOSITION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF SATELLITES EXAMINED

The Moon

The Satellites of Mars

The Galilean Satellites of Jupiter

Io

Europa

Ganymede

Callisto

POTENTIAL FOR A LIVING ENTITY TO BE IN OR ON SAMPLES RETURNED FROMPLANETARY SATELLITES

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS TO REDUCE THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE ASSESSMENTOF PLANETARY SATELLITES

Phobos and Deimos

4 Asteroids and Meteorites

UNDIFFERENTIATED, PRIMITIVE (C-TYPE) ASTEROIDS

UNDIFFERENTIATED, METAMORPHOSED ASTEROIDS

DIFFERENTIATED ASTEROIDS.

POTENTIAL FOR A LIVING ENTITY TO BE IN OR ON SAMPLES RETURNED FROMASTEROIDS

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS TO REDUCE THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE ASSESSMENTOF ASTEROIDS

5 Comets

ORIGIN

Place of Formation

Nebular Processes and Accretion

Gravitational Scattering

Early Heating and Melting

COMPOSITION

Physical Characteristics

Chemical Composition

PAST AND PRESENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

DELIVERY OF SAMPLES TO EARTH

POTENTIAL FOR A LIVING ENTITY TO BE IN OR ON SAMPLES RETURNED FROMCOMETS

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS TO REDUCE THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE ASSESSMENTOF COMETS

6 Cosmic Dust

NATURAL INFALL OF DUST TO EARTH

POTENTIAL FOR A LIVING ENTITY TO BE IN OR ON RETURNED SAMPLES OFCOSMIC DUST

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS TO REDUCE THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE ASSESSMENTOF COSMIC DUST

7 Considering the Potential Risks from Returned Samples

LIKELIHOOD OF FINDING AND INCLUDING A LIVING ORGANISM IN SAMPLESFROM DIFFERENT SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES

ANTICIPATING THE PUTATIVE NATURE OF LIFE FROM SMALL SOLAR SYSTEMBODIES

CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL BIOHAZARDS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS

CONTAINMENT AND QUARANTINE FACILITIES

TESTING OF RETURNED SAMPLES

8 Conclusions and Recommendations

ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL FOR A LIVING ENTITY TO BE PRESENT IN OR ONSAMPLES RETURNED FROM SMALL SOLAR...

Moon

CONTAINMENT AND HANDLING OF RETURNED SAMPLES

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS TO REDUCE UNCERTAINTY

REFERENCE

Appendixes

A Biographical Sketches of Task Group Members

B Letter of Request

C Additional Perspectives on Contamination from Space

CLAY-BASED LIFE

PANSPERMIA

ARTIFACTS IN METEORITES.

REFERENCES

D Planetary Protection Policy-NASA and COSPAR

NASA'S POLICY

Cospar Policy

E Glossary.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610186907

9780309173711

030917371X

9781280186905

1280186909

9780309592048

0309592046

9780585025421

0585025428

OCLC:

42329147