MacGregor, Donald G.Slovic, PaulRace, Margaret2016-11-152016-11-151998MacGregor, D. G., Slovic, P., & Race, M. S. (1998). Lay and expert perceptions of planetary protection (Report No. 98-2). Eugene, OR: Decision Research.https://hdl.handle.net/1794/206438 pagesAs space scientists and engineers plan new missions to Mars and other planets in our solar system, they will face critical questions about the potential for biological contamination of planetary surfaces. In a society that places ever-increasing importance on the role of public involvement in science and technology policy, questions about risks of biological contamination will be examined and debated in the media, and will lead to the formation of public perceptions of planetary-contamination risks. These perceptions will, over time, form an important input to the development of space policy.en-USCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USLayExpertsPerceptionPlanetary protectionArticle