What Role Does Nanotechnology Play in Planetary Protection?
Planetary protection involves preventing contamination of other planets with Earth-based organisms and vice versa. Nanotechnology can aid in developing sterilization techniques to ensure that spacecraft and instruments are free from microbial life. For example, nanoscale coatings with antimicrobial properties can be applied to surfaces to prevent the spread of terrestrial microbes. This ensures that any detected signs of life are truly extraterrestrial and not contaminants from Earth.
