Limits of Terrestrial Life and the Probability of Growth on Mars (Virtual Meeting)

Committee on Planetary Protection (CoPP) (Virtual Meeting June 1-2, 2026)
June 1 – 2, 2026

This meeting is to provide information to NASA so it can develop a prioritized list of factors that contribute to the potential release of terrestrial bioburden on the Mars surface and the likelihood of microbial survival and replication.

Quantitative and qualitative guidance on individual and multiple growth-limiting/growth-promoting conditions are needed to advance the analysis of planetary protection approaches that enable the search for evidence of life on Mars. Key factors identified during this meeting will assist in modeling the probability of survival and growth of terrestrial organisms in planning for future human and robotic missions to Mars.

The meeting participants will consider:

Current knowledge about microbial persistence and survival in terrestrial, human inhabited, contained environments and control factors used to limit microbial contamination. Considerations will include microbial containment, aseptic controls, and sterilization/containment methodologies. Current knowledge of environmental contamination in analogue martian habitats and previous or existing space missions will be discussed.

Current knowledge about the limits of microbiological growth and survival with a focus on studies that address the probability of survival and growth under known Martian conditions (e.g., nutrient availability, high radiation, low water activity, extreme oxides, cold temperatures, presence/absence of methane).

Identification and prioritization of research gaps for understanding the risk of survival and growth of terrestrial microorganisms on the Martian surface and shallow subsurface.
Meeting deliverables will include: a closing discussion on the prioritization of the topics raised during the meeting, proposals for additional research that may be required to develop a probabilistic risk assessment model for terrestrial microbial survival/growth on the Martian surface, and active dialogue on the next proposed steps.

More information https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEPS-SSB-20-02/event/46538

Astrobiology