Did space exploration by humans contaminate space and other planets?

(Image source: NASA Curiosity Image)

Humans have been exploring space since the start of the 1950s as a result of the cold war between the USSR & USA. Both of them tried to explore the moon and study even the possibility of using it for military purposes and since then began the race to send space crafts, Space vehicles, hoover, etc. to the moon and then there was a new phase to it when we humans began to get more curious and started the exploration of Mars.

But we are forgetting that earth is full of micro-organisms, bacteria, and various other such elements which are practically Indestructible, you can never kill 100% of micro-organisms on any given surface. Micro-organisms are present everywhere they are in the air you breathe, the clothes you wear the food you eat EVERYWHERE these micro-organisms procreate and multiple themselves very fast, they are practically unaffected by severe conditions, whether it be high heat or extreme cold, hence you can find bacteria inside molten lava and also in ice deep inside Antarctica region. Also, bacteria adapt themselves to surrounding conditions very well.

Now coming to the point of contamination of space by humans, all the space exploration like ISRO, NASA, etc. agencies have strict protocols to prevent the spread of micro-organisms and the workshops where they are made are have very strict protocols to avoid the spread of these micro-organisms and hence they make all the personnel working in there wear preventive suits and cover their entire body and everything is completely sanitized. But since these microorganisms are practically indestructible they are definitely and will definitely survive the cold of space and where ever the particular spacecraft lands it transfers those microorganisms to that particular celestial body where that microorganism never existed and because of its properties of multiplying themselves very fast they will increase in number.

“Humanity has sent around 30 spacecraft and landers to the Red Planet since the space age began. Now, we know which microbes might have survived the trip”- Geneticist Christopher Mason

* Christopher Mason is a professor of genomics, physiology, and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University. He researches the molecular and genetic effects of long-term human spaceflight on Nasa and other astronauts, as well as the design of new cell types for cancer therapy, and is the author of a new book published by MIT Press – The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds.

Is there any chance that down the line after a few decades there shall be human-like figures walking on mars ?, it is highly like not possible as the earth is one of the most life favorable earth planet in our solar system the characteristics of the earth as a celestial body are very favorable for life and hence we have life in so many different forms, but anything is possible.

As of now, scientists are waiting for any microorganism sample from space to conduct research and come out with a definitive outcome, but it is one of the possibilities and knowingly or unknowingly humans did send life on various celestial bodies in just 6 decades of conducting space research.

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Reference]

[1] Could humans have contaminated Mars with life?

[2]Ivy League scientist says NASA may have accidentally spread life to Mars

[3] NASA Mars Images