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NASA's 'Men in black' job offer: Protect Earth from aliens for $187,000; qualification, last date and how to apply

Planetary Protection Officers Are Hired To Make Sure Humans Don't Contaminate Planets, Moons, And Other Objects In Space. They're Also Supposed To Help Prevent Any Alien Microbes That Might Exist From Spreading To Earth.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Prakhar Sharma | Updated on: 02 Aug 2017, 07:26:41 PM
NASA's 'Men in black' job offer: Protect Earth from aliens for $187,000

New Delhi:

The US space agency NASA is offering an amazing job titled planetary protection officer, which resembles with the work profile shown in popular Hollywood movie series 'Men in black'. The salary for the job is huge and the role is permanent considering the responsibilities involved in the profile which also include protecting Earth from extraterrestrial life.

The salary offered for the planetary protection officer post is up to $187,000. This post was created after the signing of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Planetary protection officers are hired to make sure humans don't contaminate planets, moons, and other objects in space. They're also supposed to help prevent any alien microbes that might exist from spreading to Earth.

According to a job description posted on USA jobs, the new hire will focus on the "avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration." In other words: ensuring space missions don't end up polluting pristine planets and that extraterrestrial matter does not contaminate Earth.

Even though this job is unique, plenty of space agencies already employ planetary protection officers in a part-time or shared role capacity, reports Business Insider.

However, only the European Space Agency and NASA employ a full-time planetary protection officer.

The job was created after the US signed and ratified the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, and it specifically relates to article IX of the document:

"States Parties to the Treaty shall pursue studies of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, and conduct exploration of them so as to avoid their harmful contamination and also adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter and, where necessary, shall adopt appropriate measures for this purpose."

Qualifications required for this post include at least one year of experience as a top-level civilian government employee, plus be an expert in "advanced knowledge" of planetary protection and all that it entails.

The job requires an advanced degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics.

The job comes with a "secret" security clearance, and non-citizens aren't technically allowed to apply. Applications will be accepted through USAJobs.gov from July 13 through August 14.

ALSO READ | Alien mothership 'mammoth craft' noticed on NASA's live feed keeping eye on ISS: UFO

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First Published : 02 Aug 2017, 02:00:40 PM

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