Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

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Project Apollo: Americans to the Moon
“(iv) Undertake the development of the sterile drilling system to
accompany an early Apollo mission to return an uncontaminated sample
of the lunar subsoil. Samples aseptically collected from this subsoil will be
of both biological and geochemical interest. Should life exist on the Moon,
it might be expected at some depth below the surface where temperatures
never exceed 100°C and below the zone of ultraviolet radiation. Every
effort should be made to keep this level free of contaminants until it can
be sampled by drilling.”
5. POLICY
a. Landings: Unless otherwise authorized by the Deputy
Administrator, all manned landings will be confined to the Apollo
Landing Zone.
b. Biological Loading
(1) Contamination of the manned landers will be held to
the minimum practical level consistent with achieving the
major mission objectives as specified in the appropriate
mission assignment document as approved.
(2) Contamination on the surface of automated landers and
orbi ters will be kept below a level such that, if contamina tion
is confined to an area of 2.59 square kilometers (1 square
mile) around the lunar impact point, there will not be more
than one viable organism per square meter.
c. Biological Inventory: An inventory of probable post-landing biological
contamination levels at each Apollo and automated landing site
and a total inventory for the Moon will be obtained and maintained
for future reference in the event sites are revisited and to aid in the
interpretation of data obtained in subsequent experiments.
[remainder of document not provided]
Document II-54
Dr. Thomas O. Paine
Administrator
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Washington, D. C. 20546
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
March 24, 1969