NASA hiring someone to protect the planet from alien matter

Do you have secret security clearance and a penchant for protecting the planet from alien matter? If so, then NASA has the job for you.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration posted a job listing on USAjobs.gov. seeking a "Planetary Protection Officer." The gig, which will net its recipient $124,406 to $187,000 per year in salary, would involve being "concerned with the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration."

In other words, the job is making sure astronauts and spaceships don't accidentally bring back to Earth anything harmful during exploration trips.

"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," according to the job posting.

Candidates should have "advanced knowledge of Planetary Protection," as well as a degree in physical science, engineering or math. And "frequent travel" is possible, though the listing did not note possible destinations.

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