Wanted: Someone to Protect Earth From Extraterrestrial Threats, With a Six-Figure Salary From NASA

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.

An active region of the sun released spectacular solar flares captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory on April 17, 2016. This video was captured in several wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light, a type of light that is typically invisible to our eyes. The flare caused moderate radio blackouts.

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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