Comment Submitted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Is the EPA taking on NASA? Or is this just what US government agencies do to each other to get compliance?

2nd International Mars Sample Return (2018) The Moon: A 100% isolation barrier for Earth during exobiological examination of solar system sample return missions. Barry E. DiGregorio, Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, Buckingham MK18 1EG, United Kingdom

Mars Sample Return Campaign Concept Architecture A White Paper for the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032 Primary Author: Brian K. Muirhead, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109

Chemical Innovation: The Dilemma of Mars Sample Return - The dilemma of Mars sample return, by Barry E. DiGregorio. Chemical Innovation 2001, 31 (8), 24-33. Copyright © 2001 American Chemical Society. This article expresses the views of the author and not necessarily those of Chemical Innovation magazine or the American Chemical Society.

Phobos Sample Return Project

Planetary Society Project LIFE Experiment for the Phobos-Grunt Mission - General FAQ - Experiment Size and Design

Preliminary Planning for an International Mars Sample Return Mission - June 1, 2008 - Report of the International Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples (iMARS) Working Group

Findings of the Mars Special Regions Science Analysis Group by the MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group. It should be noted that even in a region determined to be "non-special," it is possible a spacecraft may create an environment that meets the definition of "special" or "uncertain." It is possible for spacecraft to induce conditions that could exceed for some time the threshold conditions for biological propagation, even when the ambient conditions were 'not special' before the spacecraft arrived. Whether a special region is induced or not depends on the configuration of the spacecraft, where it is sent, and what it does. This possibility is best evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

On possible release of microbe-containing particulates from a Mars lander spacecraft by Kenneth Harstad, Josette Bellan. 4800 Oak Grove Drive, M/S 125-109, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109-8099

A Planetary Quarantine Laboratory On The Moon by Barry E. DiGregorio, Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff, UK.
Barry E. DiGregorio's 2004 SPIE Conference paper regarding a planetary quarantine laboratory on the Moon: from Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VIII.
In January of 2004 NASA was directed by the President of the United States to setting a goal to establish a permanent human tended scientific outpost on the Moon by 2015-2020. One of the highest priority goals for the NASA Mars exploration program has been how to proceed with the return of Martian soil and rock samples directly to Earth for extensive laboratory analysis. However scientific debates exist on how to obtain pristine samples from Mars without introducing terrestrial contaminants and also for preventing the back contamination of the Earth’s biosphere by putative Martian microbes. In consideration of all the associated problems with returning Martian soil samples directly to the Earth or by examination in Earth orbit, a dedicated human tended planetary quarantine laboratory on the Moon as part of a larger scientific outpost could provide the best solution to the back contamination problem and might inspire the public to rally around such a worthy scientific cause.

A Draft Test Protocol for Detecting Possible Biohazards in Martian Samples Returned to Earth (NASA/CP 2002-211842).
NASA has prepared a draft protocol for the testing and evaluation of samples that may be returned from Mars by future missions in its Mars exploration program. This protocol is designed to provide a model method whereby such samples can be tested for possible biohazards that could be present if life exists on Mars. The protocol has been prepared as a draft to guide the development of both a final protocol to accomplish biohazard and life-detection testing, and to aid in the eventual design of the facility or facilities that will be required to accomplish that testing. Public comment on this draft protocol is sought to provide for refinement of the draft and to provide information for future NASA planning efforts.

AGU 2002 Spring Meeting - Mars Sample Return NASA has announced its most recent plans to continue with a Mars Sample Return mission with one being considered on or before 2010. Here are a list of scientific abstracts from the American Geophysical Unions 2002 Spring Meeting.

Dangers on Mars Require Extensive Evaluation Before Human Exploration Could Proceed National Academy of Sciences, 2001 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20007.

Mars Sample Return Lander NASA's Long and Short term plans for future missions to mars detailing the objectives and methods for gathering information and returning samples back to earth.

Mars Sample Return Spacecraft Systems Architecture by H. Price, K. Cramer, S. Doudrick, W. Lee, J. Matijevic, S. Weinstein of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology; by T. Lam-Trong, O. Marsal of the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales; by R. Mitcheltree of the NASA Langley Research Center

IAF-00-Q.2.04: Sample Returns Missions in the Coming Decade by Prasun N. Desai, Robert A. Mitcheltree, and F. McNeil Cheatwood; NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199, USA

The Martians Are Coming! an article from Disaster! Magazine. NASA's Planetary Protection Officer Dr. John Rummel discusses the Mars Sample Return mission and NASA's planned method of using Earth as a catchers mitt (Passive Earth Entry Capsule) for receiving samples from Mars

Planetary Protection (PP) And Human Missions To Mars by D. L. DeVincenzi (1), R. Wharton (1,2)
(1) NASA Ames, Moffett Field, CA, (2) Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV

The Quarantine and Certification of Martian Samples - National Research Council, Space Studies Board, Public Briefing, May 29, 2001. Opening Statement by John A. Wood, Staff Scientist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Chair, Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration.

Phased Approach To Mars Sample Return - ICAMSR Exectutive Director Barry E. DiGregorio, Dr. Gilbert, V. Levin and Dr. Max Wallis submitted an abstract and oral presentation to the British Royal Society meeting on March 23, 2001. The meeting was hosted by the British built Beagle 2 Mars Probe principal scientist, Dr. Colin Pilllinger and sought ways in which the British could involve themselves in returning Martian soil samples. The abstract adopts the ICAMSR four phase approach to Mars Sample Return.

Preliminary Thermal Analysis Of A Mars Sample Return Earth Entry Vehicle (AIAA-2000-2584) - Ruth M. Amundsen, John A. Dec, Robert A. Mitcheltree, Michael C. Lindell, Robert A. Dillman, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Langley Research Center, Hampton VA 23681-2199.

Earth Entry Vehicles for the Mars Sample Return Project - Summary Presentation - by Robert A. Mitcheltree, NASA Langley Research Center, USRA Project Re-Entry Workshop, October 27, 1999.

Category V Compliant Container for Mars Sample Return Missions by Benjamin Dolgin, Joseph Sanok, and Donald Sevilla from Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and by Laurence J. Bement from NASA Langley Research Center.
An engineering report detailing plans for the Mars Sample container. Would this system work if Ebola or Anthrax were the cargo?

A Passive Earth-Entry Capsule for Mars Sample Return by Robert A. Mitcheltree from NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. and Sotiris Kellas from Lockheed Martin Engineering and Sciences Co., Hampton, Va.
A engineering review of a high risk but economical method for returning samples from Mars. ICAMSR completely opposes this method which uses the Earth as a catchers mit.