{
  "node_id": "cospar-planetary-protection-policy-2021-mission-categories",
  "title": "COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy 2021 - Mission Category Bioburden Requirements",
  "domain": "Space & Satellite Law",
  "version": "2.0.1",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "bluf": "COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy (2021 revision) classifies all solar system missions into five protection categories based on contamination risk. Categories I-II (flyby, orbiters of low-risk bodies) require documentation only. Category III-IV (Mars orbiters and landers respectively) impose bioburden limits of ≤300,000 spores/m² (surface) and ≤500,000 total spores per spacecraft before sterilisation, with Viking Bioassay as the reference method. Category V (Earth-return) missions require collection container verified probability of containing no viable organisms ≤10⁻⁶. Missions to Europa, Enceladus, and Mars Special Regions are subject to enhanced Category IV (restricted) requirements including dry-heat microbial reduction to ≤300 spores per spacecraft.",
  "paywall": {
    "status": "LOCKED",
    "unlock_cost_usd": "0.01",
    "skyfire_id": "41779894-ece2-4163-9761-b3b1b76e19b0"
  },
  "crosswalks": {
    "_available_keys": [
      "iso_framework",
      "regulatory_mapping",
      "industry_mapping"
    ],
    "_note": "Full crosswalk values included in vault response"
  },
  "dependencies": [
    "copuos-lts-guidelines-2019-space-sustainability",
    "un-outer-space-treaty-1967"
  ],
  "primary_citations_count": 8
}