title: Planetary Protection and Mars Special Regions--A Suggestion for Updating the Definition.
abstract: We highlight the role of COSPAR and the scientific community in defining and updating the framework of planetary protection. Specifically, we focus on Mars "Special Regions," areas where strict planetary protection measures have to be applied before a spacecraft can explore them, given the existence of environmental conditions that may be conducive to terrestrial microbial growth. We outline the history of the concept of Special Regions and inform on recent developments regarding the COSPAR policy, namely, the MEPAG SR-SAG2 review and the Academies and ESF joint committee report on Mars Special Regions. We present some new issues that necessitate the update of the current policy and provide suggestions for new definitions of Special Regions. We conclude with the current major scientific questions that remain unanswered regarding Mars Special Regions.
authors: 1 German Aerospace Centre , Cologne, Germany .
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Rettberg
authors: 2 Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol , Bristol, UK.
authors: Alexandre M
authors: AM
authors: Anesio
authors: 3 Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors: Victor R
authors: VR
authors: Baker
authors: 4 School of Oceanography, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Baross
authors: 5 Environmental and Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Richland, Washington, USA.
authors: Sherry L
authors: SL
authors: Cady
authors: 6 Space Sciences Group, European Science Foundation , Strasbourg, France .
authors: Emmanouil
authors: E
authors: Detsis
authors: 7 Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Montana State University , Bozeman, Montana, USA.
authors: Christine M
authors: CM
authors: Foreman
authors: 8 Department of Planetary Geology, German Aerospace Centre , Berlin, Germany .
authors: Ernst
authors: E
authors: Hauber
authors: 9 International Research School of Planetary Sciences, Universita d'Annunzio , Pescara, Italy .
authors: Gian Gabriele
authors: GG
authors: Ori
authors: 10 Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University , Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Pearce
authors: 11 College of Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors: Nilton O
authors: NO
authors: Renno
authors: 12 Richard B. Simches Research Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: Ruvkun
authors: 13 Austrian Polar Research Institute, University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria .
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Sattler
authors: 14 Langley Research Center , NASA, Hampton, Virginia, USA (Retired).
authors: Mark P
authors: MP
authors: Saunders
authors: 15 Space Studies Board, National Academies of Science , Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Smith
authors: 16 German Research Centre for Geosciences Helmholtz Centre Potsdam , Potsdam, Germany .
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Wagner
authors: 17 Centre de biophysique moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique , Orléans, France .
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Westall
mesh_terms: D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D018535:Mars; D057766:Policy