New ESA-funded planetary protection project launches

We're delighted to announce a new research project funded through ESA's Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP).

This project advances the development of a Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) model for planetary protection requirements for Mars missions. 

Led by Karen Olsson-Francis, with Mark Sephton (Imperial College London), Jonathan Carter (Coventry University), Ezgi Kucukkilic-Stephens (OU) and Ben Stephens (OU), the research will combine experimental data from Mars simulation experiments with Bayesian statistical modelling to quantify both the probability and the uncertainty of microbial survival and growth at the martian surface.

The project will assess impact of simulated martian environmental conditions on microbial growth and survival and use the findings to model the probability of life persisting on Mars. The resulting probability values can be directly implemented within a PRA for Mars missions. 

Karen Olsson-Francis said:

"One of the most exciting questions in science is whether life exists, or has ever existed, beyond Earth. Planetary protection helps ensure that our search for answers is not compromised by biological contamination from our own planet. This project will help strengthen the scientific basis for those efforts as we prepare for future missions to Mars."