The United States
is a signatory to the United Nations 1966 Treaty of
Principles Governing the Activities of the States in
the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the
Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Known as the "Outer
Space Treaty," this document states in part that
exploration of the Moon and other celestial bodies shall
be conducted "so as to avoid their harmful contamination
and also adverse changes in the environment of the Earth
resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial
matter."
The Genesis sample consists of atoms from the Sun. The
Genesis mission has been categorized by NASA's planetary
protection officer as a mission safe for unrestricted
Earth return, because it was concluded that there is
no chance of extraterrestrial biological contamination
during sample collection at the L1 point. The National
Research Council's Space Studies Board has also concurred
on a planetary protection designation of unrestricted
Earth return. The board determined that the sample has
no potential for containing life.
Mishap
Investigation Board Report |
