Why must lander probes on Mars be sterilized before launch?
A) to prevent terrestrial microbes hitching a ride on the probe and contaminating the Martian surface
B) to prevent terrestrial microbes destroying the electronics in the probe during its passage to Mars
C) to prevent Martian dust from building up on the probe on the surface
D) to prevent Martian microbes from contaminating the lander probe

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lander probes on Mars must be sterilized before launch to prevent terrestrial microbes from hitching a ride on the probe and contaminating the Martian surface. This is important for the study of possible past or present life on Mars since any detection of microbial life could be compromised by contamination from Earth.

Why Must Lander Probes on Mars Be Sterilized Before Launch