NASA To Hire Planetary Protection Officer
Indalecio_Nedian
August 2nd, 2017
Current speculation of what the Planetary Protection Officer would look like in uniform.
Newsweek:
NASA is looking for a Planetary Protection Officer to protect the planet from potential alien contamination. The U.S. government’s official employment site posted the job advert, open to U.S. citizens and nationals for applications until August 14.
The job comes with a six figure salary—$124,406 to $187,000 per year—and security clearance is listed as "secret." The role involves stopping astronauts and robots from getting contaminated with any organic and biological material during space travel.
Ayo, hollup! Ok, so maybe that description of it doesn't necessarily invoke the image of heavily armored space marines gunning down alien insect creatures on a foreign planet. It actually sounds more like they'll be trying to keep astronauts from getting jizzed on in outer space or otherwise contracting some sort of alien virus or bacteria. Still, the creation of this position does tend to suggest that NASA is seriously lending credence to the idea that life from outside Earth should be seen as a potential threat to humanity. Foreign invaders should definitely be kept out, it's true for the planet as well as our nation.
“NASA maintains policies for planetary protection applicable to all space flight missions that may intentionally or unintentionally carry Earth organisms and organic constituents to the planets or other solar system bodies, and any mission employing spacecraft, which are intended to return to Earth and its biosphere with samples from extraterrestrial targets of exploration” the job advert reads. “This policy is based on federal requirements and international treaties and agreements.”
That last bit indicates that they are equally concerned about bringing life from earth to other planets as well. This would prevent the spread of invasive species to potentially inhabitable planets. This is something that has certainly been a problem within our planet itself. The development of international travel by sea and by air has certainly brought invasive species into places where there numbers quickly grow out of control, destroying native species of both flora and fauna causing harm to the ecosystem and occasionally having a devastating effect on human agriculture and fishing industries. Unfortunately nowadays we of European descent know all to well the horrors of invasive species.
The job, initially, is a three-year contract that may be extended for a further two years. During this time, NASA will be planning several missions, including one to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, where it will search for signs of alien life.
We need to do everything in our power to prevent an invasion of Ice Niggers from the ice moon of Jupiter. Can you imagine an invasion of frosty moon crickets? It would be game over, no future for white children.
Summer is almost over, Winter is Coming
“The Planetary Protection Officer (PPO) is responsible for the leadership of NASA's planetary protection capability, maintenance of planetary protection policies, and oversight of their implementation by NASA's space flight missions,” the job spec says. The successful candidate will have to work with several different branches of NASA and external organizations that are involved in planetary protection.
According to the job listing, the main responsibilities are:
Leads planning and coordination of activities related to NASA mission planetary protection needs. Leads independent evaluation of, and provides advice regarding, compliance by robotic and human spaceflight missions with NASA planetary protection policies, statutory requirements and international obligations.
Advises the Chief, SMA and other officials regarding the merit and implications of programmatic decisions involving risks to planetary protection objectives.
In coordination with relevant offices, leads interactions with COSPAR, National Academies, and advisory committees on planetary protection matters.
Recommends and leads the preparation of new or revised NASA standards and directives in accordance with established processes and guidelines.
Candidates must have “broad engineering expertise,” and should be an expert in planetary protection: “This includes demonstrated technical expertise to independently form technically sound judgments and evaluations in considerably complex situations.” Candidates should also have a degree in physical science, engineering or mathematics.
So the job detail is a bit dry, but never the less it is good to see NASA and our new administration taking things seriously. Earlier in July we got news of the plans to create a new space corps division of the miltary. Let's keep an eye on future developments, as the next decade might see the dawn of the construction of an intergalactic fourth reich!
