If you're keen to earn a bit of extra cash while potentially saving this planet from alien infection, NASA has an opening for you.
The US space agency is looking to hire a Planetary Protection Officer who will both protect our planet from the Martians and make sure that humans venturing into space do not contaminate other worlds.
The job requires "frequent travel" but it does come with a salary of $187,000 (£141,000) a year with benefits. Which isn't bad.
"Planetary protection is concerned with the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration," reads the job description.
“Nasa maintains policies for planetary protection applicable to all space flight missions that may intentionally or unintentionally carry Earth organisms and organic constituents to the planets or other solar system bodies, and any mission employing spacecraft, which are intended to return to Earth and its biosphere with samples from extraterrestrial targets of exploration.”
Apparently, the idea for the role came about following the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 when 107 countries realized the importance of protecting our planet from ET.
The role is open for three years with the option to extend it to five and will probably require involvement in NASA's upcoming missions. Including a planned trip to Jupiter's moon Europa in the 2020s.
If you're interested in applying, NASA says you need at least one year's experience as a civilian government employee and an advanced degree in physical science, engineering or mathematics.
The space agency says the role requires “demonstrated skills in diplomacy that resulted in win-win solutions during extremely difficult and complex multilateral discussions”.
You also need to have "advanced knowledge" of planetary protection. Which probably means more than just having read The Andromeda Strain whilst on holiday.
The US space agency is looking to hire a Planetary Protection Officer who will both protect our planet from the Martians and make sure that humans venturing into space do not contaminate other worlds.
The job requires "frequent travel" but it does come with a salary of $187,000 (£141,000) a year with benefits. Which isn't bad.
"Planetary protection is concerned with the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration," reads the job description.
“Nasa maintains policies for planetary protection applicable to all space flight missions that may intentionally or unintentionally carry Earth organisms and organic constituents to the planets or other solar system bodies, and any mission employing spacecraft, which are intended to return to Earth and its biosphere with samples from extraterrestrial targets of exploration.”
Apparently, the idea for the role came about following the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 when 107 countries realized the importance of protecting our planet from ET.
The role is open for three years with the option to extend it to five and will probably require involvement in NASA's upcoming missions. Including a planned trip to Jupiter's moon Europa in the 2020s.
If you're interested in applying, NASA says you need at least one year's experience as a civilian government employee and an advanced degree in physical science, engineering or mathematics.
The space agency says the role requires “demonstrated skills in diplomacy that resulted in win-win solutions during extremely difficult and complex multilateral discussions”.
You also need to have "advanced knowledge" of planetary protection. Which probably means more than just having read The Andromeda Strain whilst on holiday.