Protecting ocean worlds: Europa Clipper planetary protection inputs to a probabilistic risk-based approach

Abstract

There is increased interest in exploring planetary bodies that have ocean worlds, and planetary protection (PP) practices for spacecraft are important to avoid harmful biological contamination of these sensitive environments. In the autumn of 2018 a diverse set of subject matter experts were assembled to examine the environmental input parameters (e.g. space radiation, Europa surface turnover) and biological input parameters that are referenced by the Europa Clipper project probabilistic risk model, to assess the < 1 × 10−4 probability of contamination requirement derived from NASA Procedural Requirements 8020.12D. A joint NASA–JPL lead workshop entitled, ‘Europa Clipper Planetary Protection Workshop’ was convened on 13–15 November 2018, to validate probability model input values, current Europa Clipper PP requirements and implementation strategy, and identify future PP research topics. The three objectives for the 3 day workshop were: (1) to validate the probability of contamination modelling framework for Europa Clipper PP; (2) to agree on probability of contamination model input values, or on a plan to derive/identify appropriate model inputs and (3) to develop workshop concurrence regarding future PP research plans and their priority. Workshop participants engaged in detailed scientific and engineering discussions focusing on Clipper mission objectives and trajectories, Europan ice shell geophysics and understanding the impact of initial microbial bioburdens and spacecraft cleanliness with all three objectives being successfully completed by the end of the workshop.