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Our Man In Black

Posted by timothy on from the don't-trust-'em dept.

bot writes "A recent Slate article covers the onerous responsibilites of the Planetary Protection Officer. He is tasked with preventing contamination of earth by alien organisms, and 'forward contamination' (contamination of other planets with earth germs). There is also a published protocol (PDF link) for avoiding Martian bugs."

2 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Avoid Martian bugs: by dj245 · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    How to avoid Martian 'Bug':

    Don't let Bush dictate the direction of NASA. Let the scientists make up their own mind about where they want to go, what experiments are valid, what we are ready for, what we are not.

    Having a national direction for our space program is great, it worked in the 60's, but in the 60's they had a virtually unlimited budget. Saying "we will go to X by 20YY is fine if they will spend the cash, but its not if the nation really isn't ready to commit. The Mars bug, i'm afraid, will never catch.

    --
    Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
  2. And he's an american, surprise surprise... by Progman3K · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I wonder what makes him more qualified than anyone else besides being an american?

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    I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J