Full G on the Moon or other small bodies?

On Jan 10, 2007, at 23:26 UTC, smartaspaper wrote:

> seriously as they spoke of probing mars and bringing back
> samples, does this not give reason to worry? after all we dont know
> how or what will effect us and the enviorment. sure you say it will
> be contained, like all the other eliments contained. most have
> caused a threat to us at one time or another. how can we be so sure
> this would be safe?

This is a legitimate question; the risk is small but significant enough
to be taken seriously. Other sample-return missions have always
involved very strict quarantine procedures; I'm sure the first Martian
samples would be treated the same way. This is both for our own
protection, and to protect the science (since any contamination would
run both ways).

Best,
- Joe

Joe Strout -- joe@...