The COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection and the COSPAR Policy on Planetary Protection: an overview of governance and...

The search for both extant and extinct life within our Solar System and beyond has been a primary motivation for space exploration since its inception. Mars has long been a focal point for exploration, and it continues to be, while the moons of the gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, are increasingly seen as possible habitats. To ensure safe and sustainable scientific exploration of these bodies, the COSPAR Policy on Planetary Protection aims at ensuring adherence to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Although not legally binding, the guidelines set forth by the Policy are globally supported, with implementation instructions provided. The primary goal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Panel on Planetary Protection is to safeguard against the harmful effects of both forward and backward contamination. It focuses on the biological exchange that may occur during Solar System exploration, which could negatively affect the study of chemical evolution as well as the origin of life. The Policy is regularly reviewed and revised to incorporate the latest scientific discoveries, alongside the rapidly advancing requirements of space exploration. The Panel's work addresses the specific needs of each space mission, while ensuring the application of relevant expertise to promote the sustainable exploration of the Solar System. This article is part of the theme issue 'Planetary Protection for sustainable space exploration'.