COSPAR, with support from ESA and NASA, is pleased to announce the 3rd COSPAR Working Meeting on Refining Planetary Protection Requirements for Human Missions to Mars, to be held May 14-16, 2019, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston. This is an interdisciplinary meeting to continue the process of addressing previously identified knowledge gaps in planetary protection between now and the first crewed flight to the martian surface.

The meeting will feed into subsequent COSPAR reporting on potential opportunities to address knowledge gaps in the areas of: i) Microbial and human health monitoring; ii) Technology and operations for contamination control; and iii) Natural transport of contamination on Mars. The second two days will have a particular focus on measurements and instruments for addressing knowledge gaps in Microbial and Human Health Monitoring.

Further information on agenda, logistics, registration and remote participation will be available shortly.

The workshop seeks to ensure a balance of discipline specialty and nationality among the participants. Accordingly, in person attendance may be limited by the capacity of the facilities. Indications of interest in participation can be sent to Valerie.a.chabot@nasa.gov