Lunar missions may contaminate the moon with hardy Earth microbes

Lunar missions may contaminate the moon with hardy Earth microbes

Experiments on Earth indicate some common species of bacteria and fungi could survive for several days on the moon's surface, suggesting missions must take stronger precautions to avoid contamination

Moon Missions May Introduce Harmful Earth Microbes to the Lunar Surface

Satellite images of the moon’s Antarctic region and Schrödinger Basin NASA/Science Photo Library The moon might endure far longer than previously thought, raising the concern of contaminating its surface before future lunar missions take place. Space missions are required to follow the “Planetary Protection” policy, ensuring that microorganisms from Earth do not contaminate other celestial [...] The post Moon Missions May Introduce Harmful Earth…