Level 2

When he found out that NASA was looking for someone to protect the world, Jack Davis sent the American space agency a letter offering to take the position.

He signed off as the “Guardian of the Galaxy”  and said that even though he was only 9, he thought he was a good fit for the position. “One of the reasons is that my sister says I am an alien… and also, I have seen almost all movies about space and aliens” he explains. Another advantage, says Jack, is that he is young and can still learn how to think like an alien.

The boy’s interest for the position did not go unnoticed. The Planetary Science Division director, James L. Green, replied that NASA is always looking for bright scientists. He also advised Jack to do well in school so he could be part of the agency’s team someday.   

The position

The person who fills the position as Planetary Protector Officer should avoid biological contamination on exploration sites – such as the Moon and Mars – and protect the Earth’s biosphere from any kind of microscopic extraterrestrial life. The annual salary ranges from 124 thousand to 187 thousand dollars (close to 386 thousand to 582 thousand reais). The position was created in 1967 by the Outer Space Treaty which was signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union.

Questions

– What does a Planetary Protector do?
– Is there any way Jack could contribute to NASA?