Planning Considerations Related to Contamination Control for the Return and Analysis of Martian Samples
The joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration and European Space Agency Mars Sample Return (MSR) Campaign is a proposed multi-mission effort to bring selected geological samples from Mars to Earth for the purpose of scientific investigation. Significant parts of these investigations could be affected by Earth-sourced contamination that is either misinterpreted as having a martian origin or that masks a martian signal. The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover implemented strict contamination control requirements to limit contamination of the samples during sample collection. Contamination control and contamination knowledge requirements have not yet been established for the samples after they arrive on Earth. The MSR Sample Receiving Facility (SRF) Contamination Panel (SCP) was tasked with defining the terrestrial biological, organic, and inorganic contamination limits for martian samples during their residence inside the SRF. To reach our recommendations, the SCP studied (i) the previously proposed limits and rationale of the Organic Contamination Panel, (ii) cleanliness levels achieved for sampling hardware by the M2020 mission, (iii) recent improvements in analytical technology and detection limits, (iv) updated information regarding the organic content of martian samples (<i>e.g.</i>, from the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument on the Curiosity rover and laboratory analyses of martian meteorites), and (v) information about the composition and geologic context of samples being collected by the Perseverance rover for return to Earth.
Authors
- Alex L. Sessions (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6120-2763)
- E. B. Rampe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6999-0028)
- Brandi L. Carrier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9943-7138)
- Aurore Hützler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6733-0448)
- Christoph Burkhardt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6952-5783)
- D. M. Paardekooper (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5643-0737)
- Bronwyn L. Teece (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0648-5443)
- Cara Magnabosco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6871-7188)
- Daniel P. GLAVIN (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7779-7765)
- Alexander J. Probst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9392-6544)
- A. Steele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9643-2841)
- A. D. Harrington (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4875-3637)
- Karen Olsson‐Francis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4684-3981)
- Frank Maixner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2846-8994)
- Katherine Louise French (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0153-8035)
- Natalie Leys (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4556-5211)
- L. E. Hays
- G. Quitté (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7370-5859)
- Jason P. Dworkin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3961-8997)
- F. Thiessen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6214-573X)
- Hazel A. Barton
- Caroline Freissinet
Institutions
- California Institute of Technology (US)
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- Eurac Research (IT)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (US)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- University of Alabama (US)
- Carnegie Institution for Science (US)
- The Open University (GB)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- Ruhrlandklinik (DE)
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (BE)
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (DE)
- Johnson Space Center (US)
- Geological Survey of Alabama (US)
- Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales (FR)
- Central Energy Resources Science Center
- European Space Research and Technology Centre (NL)
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Astrobiology
- Published
- 2025-10-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/15311074251382157
- Primary Topic
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- California Institute of Technology
- European Space Agency
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory