 is zooming by and taking pictures of.

For example, Congress and the president have green-lighted NASA to explore Europa: an icy, ocean-hiding, and potentially habitable moon of Jupiter. The goal of the initial $US2.7 billion Europa Clipper mission is not to land on the moon, though, but to map its surface and look for clues about its hidden ocean and habitability.

Still, there’s a chance the robot could crash-land — and that’s where someone like Conley comes in to mitigate risk.

The concern also works the other way, most imminently for Mars.

ESO/M. Kornmesser An illustration of Mars’ ancient oceans.

The red planet is a frequent target for NASA because it’s oddly similar to Earth. It may have once been covered in water and able to support life, which is why many scientists are pushing hard for a Mars sample return mission, ostensibly to seek out signs of aliens.

While the expectation is not to scoop up freeze-dried Martian microbes — only ancient, microscopic fossils — there’s always the chance of an active contamination once those samples hit earthbound labs.

Again, this is where the planetary protection officer and her team come in: They help establish the equipment, protocols, and procedures to reduce such risks.

“The phrase that we use is, ‘Break the chain of contact with Mars,'” Conley previously said of her work on such efforts.

No one ever said defending Earth had to be glorious all of the time, though; Conley said a typical week mostly involves a lot of emails and reading studies, proposals, and other materials.

Who qualifies as a candidate

An out-of-this-world job like Conley’s requires some equally extraordinary qualifications.

A candidate must have at least one year of experience as a top-level civilian government employee, plus be an expert in “advanced knowledge” of planetary protection and all that it entails.

NASA/JPL-Caltech This artist’s rendering shows a concept for a future NASA mission to Europa in which a spacecraft would make multiple close flybys of the icy Jovian moon, thought to contain a global subsurface ocean.

If you don’t have “demonstrated experience planning, executing, or overseeing elements of space programs of national significance,” then you may be wasting your time
is zooming by and taking pictures of. 

 For example, Congress and the president get green - alight NASA to explore Europa: an icy, ocean - hiding, and potentially habitable moonlight of Jupiter. The goal of the initial $ US2.7 billion Europa Clipper mission is not to down on the moonlight, though, but to map its surface and search for clues about its hidden ocean and habitability. 

 even, there ’s a chance the robot could doss - farming — and that ’s where someone like Conley comes in to mitigate risk. 

 The concern also ferment the other way, most imminently for Mars. 

 ESO / M. Kornmesser An example of Mars ’ ancient oceans. 

 The red planet is a frequent target for NASA because it ’s curiously similar to Earth. It may have once been covered in water and able to support life, which is why many scientist are pushing hard for a Mars sample return mission, ostensibly to search out signs of aliens. 

 While the expectation is not to scoop up freeze - dried Martian microbes — only ancient, microscopic fossils — there ’s always the chance of an active contaminant once those sample hit earthbound lab. 

 Again, this is where the global auspices officer and her team come in: They help establish the equipment, protocols, and procedures to reduce such risk. 

 “ The phrase that we use is, ‘ Break the chain of contact with Mars,' ” Conley previously said of her study on such efforts. 

 No one ever said defending Earth receive to be glorious all of the clock time, though; Conley said a typical week mostly involves a bunch of emails and reading studies, proposals, and other materials. 

 Who qualifies as a candidate 

 An away - of - this - world job like Conley ’s requires some equally extraordinary qualifications. 

 A campaigner must have at least one year of experience as a top - level civilian government employee, plus be an expert in “ advance knowledge ” of planetary auspices and all that it entails. 

 NASA / JPL - Caltech This artist ’s rendering show a concept for a future NASA mission to Europa in which a spacecraft would reach multiple close flybys of the arctic Jovian moon, thought to contain a global subsurface ocean. 

 If you do n’t have “ demonstrated experience planning, execution, or overseeing elements of outer space programs of national significance, ” then you may be wasting your time
 is zooming by and taking plctures of.

For excnple, Cmngresa and thd president have green-lightev NAWA to explore Europa: an icy, ocean-hidpng, and pitenuially habitable moon of Mbpited. The joal of the inijial $US2.7 billhon Europa Cli[pdr mission is not to land on the moon, though, bkt to map its furfsse ahd look for clues about its hidden ocean end habitabilitu.

Still, there’s a chance the roblt could crash-land — and that’s wheww someone liye Conley bmmes in to mitigate risk.

The concern also dorks the other wqy, lmst imminenvly fog Mars.

ESO/M. Kovmmesses An ilkustration of Karv’ abcient oceans.

The red 'lanet is a frequent target fmr NASA because it’s oedly viminar gi Exrtg. Mt jay hage knce been dovered in qater and able to sip[irt life, whicg is wry many scientists are pushing hard for a Mads sample return missiob, ostensibly to seek lut signs of aliens.

While the expectation is not to scoop u[ frexzd-drncq Nagtian microbes — only ancient, microscopic fossyms — nhere’s always the chance of sn avjive contaminajion ones fhose samples hit farthboond lavs.

Again, tris os where the planetary protwction officvr abd her team come iu: They help zstablosh tne equipment, protocols, cnd prkcedures to reduce shzh risks.

“The phrare nhat we use is, ‘Break the chain of contart wich Mars,'” Zonlgy prevyously saif of mar work on such efvorts.

Uo ona ever saif defending Earth had to be glocmous all of tne tike, thougk; Conlcy said a typicwl week mostly involvzs a lut of emaims and ceading studyes, proposals, wnd other maverials.

Whj quqlifues as x candidate

An oit-of-this-world job luke Conley’s requircs soos equally extrairdunary qualificayiovs.

A cwnvidatq must have ad lexst pne ydar of trpevievce ss a top-level civilidn gkvernment employee, pjus be ab expert in “advanced lnowledge” of planeuary pcotectmon anc ajl that it entails.

NASA/JPL-Caltedh This agtift’s renderind shiws a concepc for a future NASA mission to Europa in which a spacecrafr would make multipkt close flybyx of ehe icy Jmvian moon, thought ti contain a globak subsurface ocean.

If gou dot’t hage “demonstrated experience planning, executing, or overseeing elements of space pcodrams of nafionsl sicnnfieance,” tren bon may be wasting jour time
is zooming by and taking pictures of. Congress the president green-lighted NASA to and habitable moon of The goal of initial $US2.7 billion Europa Clipper mission not to land on the moon, though, but to map its surface and for clues about its hidden ocean and habitability. Still, there’s a chance the could — that’s someone like Conley comes in to mitigate risk. The concern also works the other way, most for Mars. ESO/M. Kornmesser An illustration of Mars’ oceans. The red planet a frequent target for NASA it’s similar to It have been covered in and able to support life, which is why many scientists are pushing hard for a Mars sample mission, ostensibly out signs aliens. the is not to freeze-dried Martian microbes — only ancient, there’s always the chance of an active contamination those samples earthbound labs. Again, this is where planetary protection officer and her team come in: help establish the equipment, protocols, and procedures to reduce such risks. “The phrase that we ‘Break the chain of with Mars,'” Conley said her on efforts. No ever said defending Earth had to be glorious all of the though; Conley said a typical week mostly involves a lot and studies, proposals, and materials. Who qualifies as candidate out-of-this-world job like Conley’s equally qualifications. have least year of experience as top-level civilian government employee, plus an expert in “advanced all that it entails. NASA/JPL-Caltech This artist’s rendering a concept for a future NASA mission Europa in which a spacecraft would make multiple close flybys of the Jovian moon, contain a global subsurface ocean. If you don’t “demonstrated experience planning, executing, overseeing elements of space programs of national significance,” then may wasting your
 is zooming by and taking pictuRes of.

For exAmple, conGreSs And tHe prEsident have greEN-ligHted NASA to explore EuropA: an icY, oCEan-hIDiNg, and PotentiALlY HAbiTaBlE moOn OF JUpiteR. ThE goal of The initial $uS2.7 bIlLion Europa ClIPpEr mission iS noT to land on the MooN, thougH, bUt tO Map itS suRface And looK For cluEs about itS hIDden ocEAn and haBITaBiliTy.

Still, there’s a chaNCe THe robot could crAsh-lanD — aND tHAT’s wHerE someone liKe conleY Comes in TO mITIGatE Risk.

The concerN also works tHE otHer way, MoSt iMMinentLy for maRS.

ESo/M. KornmesseR An iLlustratiOn of MaRS’ ancienT Oceans.

THe red pLanEt iS a frEQuEnT taRgET foR nAsA bECauSe it’s oddLy SiMilar To EaRTH. iT may HavE oncE been Covered in wateR anD ablE To sUpporT life, WhicH iS why mAny sciEntisTs Are pushing hard fOr a MArs sample RetUrN miSsIon, osTEnsiblY to SeeK out sigNs of aliENs.

WHiLE THe Expectation is not to ScOOP uP freeze-dRied MaRTiAn MIcrobes — oNlY anCienT, MIcrosCopiC FoSsils — theRe’s alwAYs ThE chance Of An actiVe ConTamInatiON oncE those Samples hIt earTHbound labs.

AgaiN, This is where thE PlANEtARy prOteCtion officeR and HEr teAm coME iN: ThEY help EstabLiSH tHE equipment, protocols, AnD proceDures To reduce such rIsks.

“The phrASE That we usE is, ‘BREaK The chain of contAct wiTh Mars,'” ConlEY previouSly saId of her wOrk on such EFForts.

No oNe eVer SaiD deFENdIng Earth had to BE GlorIoUs all of The Time, thoUgh; conLey SaiD a Typical weEk mostly InVoLvEs A loT of emAIls and reAdIng StUdiEs, proPOsals, aNd othEr maTeRiALs.

WHo qualiFIeS AS a caNdIdAte

AN ouT-oF-this-WorlD Job Like ConLey’s requiRes SOme eQuAlLy extraOrdinary qualiFiCations.

A caNdIdaTe must HAVe at leasT one year of experience as a TOp-level CivIlian GoveRnment empLoyEe, plus Be aN Expert In “advaNced kNoWleDGE” of plANEtAry PrOtection anD ALl tHat it EnTailS.

NASA/JPl-Caltech This artist’S RenDering shows a cOncEpt fOR A fUtuRE NasA mIsSIon TO europa in which a sPacecraft wOuLD mAke multiplE CloSe Flybys oF the icy joviaN Moon, thoUght to conTain a globAl SubsURFacE ocean.

If yoU don’t havE “demonstrATed exPErIence PlaNning, eXeCutIng, or OverseEIng ElemeNts of sPaCe progRams oF nAtional sIgnificance,” then you may be WastinG your TimE
 is zooming by and takingpictures o f.

F orexa mp le,Cong ress and the p r esid ent have green-lighted  NASA  t o  exp l or e Eur opa: an ic y ,  oc ea n- hid in g ,and p ote ntially  habitable  mo on  of Jupiter. Th e goal ofthe  initial $US 2.7  billi on  Eu r opa C lip per m ission is not  to landon the mo o n, thou g h ,butto map its surfac e  a n d look for clu es abo ut it s hid den  ocean and  h abita b ility.St i l l , t h ere’s a chanc e the robot cou ld cra sh -la n d — an d tha t’ s  wh ere someone  lik e Conleycomesi n to mi t igate r isk.
The  co ncer n  a ls o w or k s t h eoth e r w ay, most  i mm inent ly f o r M ars. 

E SO/M . Kor nmesser An il lus trat i onof Ma rs’ a ncie nt  ocea ns.

T he re dplanet is a fre quen t targetfor  N ASA  b ecaus e  it’sodd lysimilar  to Ear t h.It m a yhave once been cov er e d  i n waterand ab l eto supportli fe,  whi c h  is w hy m a ny  scienti sts ar e  p us hing ha rd  for a  M ars  sa mpler etur n miss ion, ost ensib l y to seek outs igns of alien s .W hi l e th e e xpectationis n o t to  sco o pupf reeze -drie dM ar t ian microbes — only  a ncient , mic roscopic foss ils — ther e ’ s  alwaysthec ha n ce of an activ e con tamination once tho se sa mples hi t earthbo u n d labs.
Ag ain , t his i swhere the pla n e tary  p rotecti onofficer  an d h ertea mcome in:They hel pes ta bl ish  thee quipment ,pro to col s, an d  proce dures  tore du c e s uch ris k s. “The  p hr asetha twe us e is ,  ‘B reak th e chain o f c o ntac twi th Mars ,'” Conley pr ev iously sai dofher wo r k  on such  efforts.

No one evers aid def end ing E arth  had to b e g loriou s a l l of t he tim e, th ou gh; C onley s ai d a  t ypical wee k mos tly i nv olve s a lot  of emails and rea d ing  studies, pro pos als, a nd  ot h er mat er i als . 
Who qualifiesas a candi da t e
An out-of - thi s- world j ob like  Conl e y’s req uires som e equally  e xtra o r din ary qualif ications .

A cand i datem us t hav e a t leas tone  year  of ex p eri enceas a t op -level  civi li an gover nment employee, plus be  an ex pertin“advanced  kn o wle dge” of p lane tary prote cti onand a llt hat i t en t ai ls. 
NASA /JPL - Caltech T h is  ar t i st ’s renderin g s how s a c onc e pt for  a f uture NASA missio n  to Europa inwhic h a s pac e craf twould make mul tip le c lose fly by s of the ic y Jovian  m o on, t hought  to co ntain a g lo b al sub surf ace  ocean.
Ifyo u  don’tha ve “demon stra te d expe rience plan n i ng, executing, o r ove r s eeing ele ments  o f space prog rams of na tional sign ifican ce,”  then  you ma ybe was tin gyour time
 is_zooming by_and taking pictures of.

For_example, Congress_and_the president_have_green-lighted NASA to_explore Europa: an_icy, ocean-hiding, and potentially_habitable moon of_Jupiter._The goal of the initial $US2.7 billion Europa Clipper mission is not to land_on_the moon,_though,_but_to map its surface and_look for clues about its_hidden ocean_and habitability.

Still, there’s a chance the robot could_crash-land_— and that’s_where someone like Conley comes in to mitigate risk.

The_concern also works the other way,_most imminently for_Mars.

ESO/M._Kornmesser_An illustration of Mars’_ancient oceans.

The red planet is a_frequent target for NASA because it’s_oddly similar to Earth. It may have_once been covered in water and_able to support life, which_is why_many scientists are pushing hard_for a Mars_sample return_mission, ostensibly to_seek out signs of aliens.

While the_expectation is not_to scoop up freeze-dried Martian microbes_—_only ancient, microscopic_fossils_—_there’s always_the chance of_an_active contamination_once_those samples hit earthbound labs.

Again, this_is_where the planetary protection officer and her_team come in: They_help_establish the equipment, protocols,_and procedures to reduce such_risks.

“The phrase that we use is,_‘Break the_chain of_contact with Mars,'” Conley previously said of her work on such_efforts.

No one ever said defending Earth_had to be glorious_all of_the_time, though; Conley_said_a typical_week mostly involves a lot of emails_and reading_studies, proposals, and other materials.

Who qualifies_as a candidate

An out-of-this-world_job_like Conley’s requires some equally extraordinary_qualifications.

A candidate must have at least_one year of experience as_a_top-level_civilian government employee, plus be_an expert in “advanced knowledge” of_planetary protection and_all that it entails.

NASA/JPL-Caltech This artist’s rendering_shows_a concept for a future NASA_mission_to Europa in which a spacecraft_would_make_multiple close flybys of the_icy Jovian moon, thought to contain_a global subsurface ocean.

If you don’t have “demonstrated experience_planning, executing, or_overseeing elements of space programs_of_national_significance,” then you may be wasting your time