[meteorite-list] pollution

[AL Mitterling]

Hi Dave and all,

I think what your concern is (tell me if I am wrong), not so much 
transporting biological organisms but rather contamination of the planet 
then later finding that contamination and declaring there is life there 
on the red rock.

As I recall there was great concern when we were first going there about 
this and the Russians and the American space programs agreed to be as 
careful, sterile as we could be so if there was life on Mars, it 
wouldn't be from transported microbes.

Your question is of course a very good one. Perhaps you are asking the 
wrong division of Nasa. An email to the various science investigating 
teams might be in order. BTW this is very on topic as it deals with a 
question about life in meteorites (or planets) in which we have space 
rocks that have landed.

--AL