Planetary Protection Protocol: Earth's Biosecurity Framework for Extraterrestrial Contamination Risks

The current framing of 'protecting Earth from Martian microbes' is a symptom of a broader colonial and extractivist paradigm in space science, where the cosmos is treated as a frontier to be conquered rather than a web of relationships to be honored.

This narrative obscures the historical roots of planetary protection in Cold War power struggles, the marginalization of Indigenous and Global South voices, and the unproven efficacy of proposed technological solutions. A systemic approach requires decolonizing the discourse by centering Indigenous cosmologies like *kaitiakitanga*, adopting the Precautionary Principle to prevent harm, and democratizing decision-making through global deliberation. The actors driving this narrative—primarily Western space agencies and corporations—stand to benefit from unchecked expansion, while the risks are borne by future generations and potential extraterrestrial life. The solution pathways must therefore challenge the power structures that define 'safety' in space, replacing them with frameworks rooted in reciprocity, equity, and humility.