NASA is looking to hire someone to protect planet earth from threats from outer space. But the “Planetary Protection Officer” won’t exactly be an alien assassin.
NASA is looking to hire someone to protect Earth from extraterrestrial threats.
A job listing on usajobs.gov says NASA is hiring a "Planetary Protection Officer" with a salary of $124,406 to $ 187,000 per year.
This person will be responsible for preventing extraterrestrial microbes from polluting Earth, as well as ensuring that human space explorers do not harm other planets, the moon and other objects in space.
"Planetary protection is concerned with the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration," the listing says.
The position is available to those with "broad engineering expertise" and who is able to travel.
The role of planetary protection officer is one of two full-time positions in the world according to Business Insider and this follows the requirement of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. The other position is offered by the European Space Agency.
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The application period will close Aug. 14. The position is for an initial period of three years, but may be extended for another two years.
