Planetary protection: An international concern and responsibility

Planetary Protection is at the heart of space exploration. The international standard for planetary protection has been developed by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) which provides a forum for international consultation and has formulated a Planetary Protection Policy with associated requirements. The COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP) is a large international committee comprising agency representatives, scientists and space experts. It maintains and updates the COSPAR Policy and its associated requirements (https://cosparhq.cnes.fr/scientific-structure/panels/panel-on-planetary-protection-ppp/). The Policy and its associated requirements is the only internationally agreed planetary protection standard with implementation guidelines for reference in compliance with Article IX of the United Nations Outer Space Treaty of 1967. The Policy is updated as needed in the face of new scientific findings. © 2021 International Astronautical Federation, IAF. All rights reserved.