The Office of Planetary Protection (OPP) recently released an updated version of the Planetary Protection (PP) Handbook. This marks the first update to the handbook since the release of a draft version in 2010.

The handbook reflects the latest NASA PP policy updates in NPR 8715.24, Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions, and the technical requirements of NASA-STD-8719.27, Implementing Planetary Protection Requirements for Space Flight. It is a companion document to the NPR and technical standard and provides guidance, best practices, background information and advice for practitioners to consider when implementing PP on NASA and NASA-partnered missions, both robotic and crewed.

The PP handbook builds on existing mission publications, industry consensus standards, and resources from the Committee on Space Research Panel on PP, the European Space Agency’s European Cooperation for Space Standardization, and the International Planetary Protection Handbook.

It is intended to be a resource not only for NASA, but also for the commercial and international communities to showcase how NASA and NASA-partnered missions implement PP requirements.

“The latest version of the PP handbook helps to ‘demystify’ the PP process and capture everything in one place while also providing key insights and lessons learned,” said Erin Lalime, Deputy Planetary Protection Officer. “The handbook shifts the focus from strictly prescriptive requirements to allow for performance-based requirements and approaches.”

For example, the latest version documents provide guidelines on approaching a topic rather than providing step-by-step protocols and provides significant updates in PP implementation. It also leverages and encourages the use of peer-reviewed publications and industrial standards while capturing lessons learned and providing tips to help the user.

The handbook represents an extensive overhaul to the entire end-to-end PP process and is comprised of eight chapters, seven appendices and over 180 pages.

Updating the handbook was a collaborative effort, requiring significant contributions from various NASA Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to draft and review the document. The handbook is intended to be a living document that the SMEs will update continuously as new information becomes available. A working group will continue to evaluate feedback, share lessons learned and update technical protocols, as needed.

“As the PP discipline continues to grow and evolve, we want our handbook to match that evolution and serve as a modernized resource that will be useful and accessible to both our NASA community and the broader space community,” said Elaine Seasly, Director, Mission Assurance Standards and Capabilities Division. “Planetary Protection enables the scientific exploration of the solar system not only for current space missions, but future missions as well, so we aim to update this living document as we gain new knowledge.”

View the updated version of the PP Handbook in its entirety here. Contact Planetary Protection Officer Nick Benardini with questions.