NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 8020.12D Effective Date: April 20, 2011 Expiration Date: August 01, 2021

Subject: Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions

Responsible Office: Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

SPECIAL ATTENTION: ONLY USE NID 8020.109A, NASA Interim Directive: Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions.

NID 8715.128 Planetary Protection Categorization for Robotic and Crewed Missions to the Earth's Moon.

NID 8715.129 Biological Planetary Protection for Human Missions to Mars.

Change History

Chapter 1. Planetary Protection Categorization of Missions

1.1 Overview
1.2 Relationship to Planetary Flight Project's Project Plan
1.3 Deviations

Chapter 2. General Mission Requirements

2.1 NASA Missions
2.2 NASA Participation in non-NASA or Missions
2.3 Implementation Requirements for U.S. Missions
2.4 Monitoring and Verification
2.5 Schedules of Documentation and Review Requirements
2.6 Deviations
2.7 Detailed Documentation Requirements
2.8 Detailed Review Requirements
2.9 Coordination with Orbital Debris Requirements

Chapter 3. Planetary Protection Constraints

3.1 General
3.2 Specification of Parameters
3.3 Microbiology Related Determinations
3.4 Microbial Reduction
3.5 Launch and Post-Launch Operations (PP Categories III-V)

Chapter 4. Management

4.1 Project Plan
4.2 Delegated Responsibilities of the Planetary Protection Officer

Chapter 5. Detailed Planetary Protection Requirements

5.1 Numerical Implementation Guidelines for Forward Contamination Calculations not Otherwise Specified
5.2 PP Category-Specific Listing of Target Body/Mission Types (advisory only)
5.3 PP Category-Specific Requirements for Mars
5.4 PP Category II*/III/IV Requirements for Icy Satellites
5.5 Requirements for Small Solar System Bodies
5.6 Additional Implementation Guidelines for PP Category V Missions

Appendix A. Definitions

Appendix B. Acronyms

Appendix C. Procedural Guidelines for Flight Projects: Communications with the Planetary Protection Officer

Appendix D. Planetary Protection Specification Sheets

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