Exploring space is an exciting frontier, but with it comes the potential for biological risks. The National Blueprint for Biodefense in May 2024 emphasizes the importance of preventing the introduction of Earth organisms into extraterrestrial environments and vice versa. The report highlights the potential threats posed by bringing back extraterrestrial or mutated microbes to Earth.
Space travel can also have negative effects on astronauts, such as weakening their immune systems and reactivating viruses like herpes and Epstein-Barr. To address these risks, the report calls for the establishment of a Planetary Biodefense Board by NASA and urges the US government to take action.
A key recommendation is for NASA to enhance its contamination labs to handle potential high-risk celestial samples, particularly as plans are in place to bring back samples from Mars in 2033. Top-tier laboratories currently may not be equipped to handle such delicate samples.
JT O’Brien, a public health expert involved in the report, stresses the importance of implementing measures before venturing into this next frontier to ensure the safety of astronauts and prevent contamination of environments.