Experts fear Mars rock samples might bring alien microbes to Earth

With coronavirus pandemic raging havoc across globe, a new report reviewing 'planetary protection' or 'planetary quarantine' has emerged suggesting that Earth could be at risk of alien microbes contamination travelling to planet onboard some satellite or flight. report has raised concerns among general public and some scientists who feel that due precautions should be taken in future launches. Scott Hubbard, an junct professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University and co-author of report has said that he can see how an old fear of some alien contamination could reemerge amid coronavirus outbreak.

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fear has been around for deces dating back to earliest days of . re are many sci-fi movies and vels that have discussed potential risk of alien contamination years ago. Michael Crichton's 1969 vel Andromeda Strain is one such earliest example where concept of alien microbes contamination has been discussed. In vel, Michael has written about an alien microbe that travels to Earth on board of a military satellite and scientists race to contain it. 1969 vel may become a reality someday and that is why scientists like Hubbard were asked by NASA to review current planetary protection guidelines. 

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new report

Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate ministrator for Science Mission Directorate in August 2019 anunced that he h asked National Acemies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to establish a group of experts to update COSPAR's guidelines on biological contamination and to review report of NASA's Planetary Protection Independent Review Board (PPIRB). main task of committee was to review recent findings and recommendations related to 'planetary protection', safeguarding of Earth and or planets from biological cross-contamination.

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committee in its report recommended that NASA and or ncies need to seriously plan commercial activities taking place in deep , particularly highlighting X founder Elon Musk's launch of Tesla roster into . report said that complication occurs when Federal Aviation ministration issues license for commercial launches without much expertise on planetary protection, unlike NASA which has its own huge PP expertise. report emphasised that Outer Treaty should apply to both government and private sectors and that re should be some US government entities to supervise and vice on private launches. report also talks about precautions in place to guard against contamination by NASA's upcoming Mars Sample Return mission. 

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