Extra-Terrestrial Exposure Law

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The Extra-Terrestrial Exposure Law (14 CFR 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations)—in force 1969–1977—was the popular name for regulations adopted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1969 to formalize its "policy, responsibility and authority to guard the Earth against any harmful contamination … resulting from personnel, spacecraft and other property returning to the Earth after landing on or coming within the atmospheric envelope of a celestial body."[1] Implemented before the Apollo 11 mission, it provided the legal authority for a quarantine period for the returning astronauts.[2] The regulation defined "extraterrestrially exposed" as

...the state or condition of any person, property, animal or other form of life or matter whatever, who or which has (1) Touched directly or come within the atmospheric envelope of any other celestial body; or (2) Touched directly or been in close proximity (or been exposed indirectly to) any person, property, animal or other form of life or matter who or which has been extraterrestrially exposed by virtue of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph.[3][4]

Quarantining of astronauts on the first lunar missions was mandated in 1969 to prepare for "the remote possibility that they are harboring unknown lunar organisms that might endanger life on earth",[5] and the Apollo 11 voyagers were kept in quarantine for 21 days after their liftoff from the moon.[6]

NASA filed notices establishing quarantine periods in the Federal Register for Apollo 11,[7] Apollo 12,[8] Apollo 13,[9] and Apollo 14.[10] After the completion of the Apollo 14 mission, NASA stopped enforcing the regulation, though it remained on the books. On April 30, 1971, NASA's acting administrator, Dr. George M. Low, was quoted as saying,

On the basis of this analysis [of quarantine information from Apollo 14], as well as the results from the Apollo 11 and 12 flights, we have concluded there is no hazard to man, animals or plants in the lunar material...the interagency committee has recommended that further lunar missions need not be subject to quarantine.[11]

NASA revoked the rule in 1977[12] and the rule was formally removed from the Code of Federal Regulations in 1991.[13][14]

See also[]

  • Planetary protection – Guiding principle in the design of an interplanetary mission, aiming to prevent biological contamination of both the target celestial body and the Earth

References[]

  1. ^ 14 CFR § 1211.100
  2. ^ Adam Freedman, The Party of the First Part: The Curious World of Legalese, p214 (MacMillan, 2007)
  3. ^ Id. at 215
  4. ^ 14 CFR § 1211.102(b)
  5. ^ "Guard Against the Unknown", Time, July 25, 1969
  6. ^ Phillips, Sam. C. (July 8, 1969). "Apollo 11 Prelaunch Mission Operation Report, no. M-932-69-1" (PDF). NASA. p. 49. Retrieved October 24, 2017. The crew will be quarantined for approximately 21 days after liftoff from the lunar surface.
  7. ^ F.R. Doc. 69-8956; 34 FR 12305
  8. ^ F.R. Doc. 69-13491; 34 FR 18204
  9. ^ F.R. Doc. 70-3182; 35 FR 4674
  10. ^ F.R. Doc. 70-17130; 35 FR 19291
  11. ^ "NASA Ends Lunar Quarantine. Albuquerque Journal, April 30, 1971, pB-6
  12. ^ F.R. Doc. 77-20691
  13. ^ Snopes on the Extra-Terrestrial Exposure Law
  14. ^ F.R. Doc. 91-9904; 56 FR 19259

External links[]

  • Extra-Terrestrial Exposure, 34 FR 11975 (July 16, 1969), codified at 14 C.F.R. pt. 1200
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