Book 8, Question 117
Why Clean Spacecraft Before Visiting Ocean Worlds?
We clean spacecraft before visiting ocean worlds so we don't bring Earth germs to alien seas! If Earth microbes hitched a ride, they could confuse our science and might even harm unknown life. This careful rule is called planetary protection, and every space agency follows it.
More fun facts
- Planetary protection means taking steps so that Earth life does not ride along to other worlds.
- In 1967, countries around the world agreed in the Outer Space Treaty to avoid contaminating other worlds and Earth.
- Before NASA's Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers went to Mars to hunt for life, they were sterilized.
- Planetary protection also means keeping Earth safe when samples from other worlds are brought back.
- Space agencies follow cleaning rules set by a group called COSPAR.
- Scientists say keeping spacecraft clean also matters for getting the science right.
Sources: Scientific American, National Geographic, NASA
Questions kids ask
What does sterilized mean?
It means cleaned so well that germs and microbes are killed or removed.