Nasa hiring ‘planetary protection officer’ to defend Earth from alien contamination – so, is there something they aren’t telling us?
Will you sign up to help Nasa stop the spread of alien goo?
NASA is on the hunt for a "planetary protection officer" who can protect humankind from alien bugs hitching a ride to Earth.
It's looking for a recruit who can help stem the spread of extraterrestrial debris when spacecraft return from space.
Vice versa, they'll also be tasked with making sure we don't pollute other planets and space rocks with our own grubby Earthling species, too.
The US space agency already has a set of rules in place to make sure this doesn't happen but they are looking for someone who can make sure astronauts and space officials stick to them.
The : "Nasa maintains policies for planetary protection applicable to all space flight missions that may intentionally or unintentionally carry Earth organisms and organic constituents to the planets or other solar system bodies, and any mission employing spacecraft intended is intended to return to Earth and its biosphere with samples from extraterrestrial targets of exploration.
"This policy is based on federal requirements and international treaties and agreements."
The job, which has a salary of up to £140,000, will be for 3 years, with the possibility of extending for an additional 2 years.
According to the post, "frequent travel is required".
Whether that's spent zipping across space is unclear.
It might sound like Nasa knows something we don't - but the job is likely more focussed on stopping us from contaminating planets than the other way around.
There are concerns that human missions to Mars or asteroids might wreak havoc on potential life that may exist there - no matter how small.
Nasa's planetary protection officer job post
Duties
The Planetary Protection Officer (PPO) is responsible for the leadership of Nasa's planetary protection capability, maintenance of planetary protection policies, and oversight of their implementation by NASAs space flight missions.
The PPO also supports the Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Technical Authority and serves as a principal advisory resource for the Chief, SMA and other senior officials on matters pertaining to planetary protection.
- The PPO is the Agency's focal point for interactions with external organizations on matters related to planetary protection. Primarily the Planetary Protection Officer performs the following:
- Leads planning and coordination of activities related to NASA mission planetary protection needs.
- Leads independent evaluation of, and provides advice regarding, compliance by robotic and human spaceflight missions with NASA planetary protection policies, statutory requirements and international obligations.
- Advises the Chief, SMA and other officials regarding the merit and implications of programmatic decisions involving risks to planetary protection objectives.
- In coordination with relevant offices, leads interactions with COSPAR, National Academies, and advisory committees on planetary protection matters.
- Recommends and leads the preparation of new or revised NASA standards and directives in accordance with established processes and guidelines.
Key requirements
- Frequent travel may be required
- This is a drug-testing designated position
- Selectee must complete a financial disclosure statement
- A one-year probationary period may be required
- degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics
Salary
$124,406 (£94,000) to $187,000 (£140,000) per year
Experts are already worried about rock and ice samples brought back from Mars or Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Dr John Rummel, senior scientist at the Seti Institute in Mountain View, California recently said:"If we bring samples back from either Europa or Mars, we will contain them until hazard testing demonstrates that there is no danger and no life, or continue the containment indefinitely while we study the material.
“It is assumed that such life would be hardy – to survive the trip to Earth; not easy – and precautions taken would provide a very high degree of containment.”
Unfortunately for us Brits, only US citizens need not apply.
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