Is there life on Mars? Not if we destroy it with poor space hygiene

As countries begin an age of Martian exploration, planetary protection advocates insist we must be careful of interplanetary contamination

Next month, three new spacecraft arrive at Mars. Two represent firsts for their countries of origin, while the third opens a new era of Mars exploration. The first is the UAE's Emirates Mars Mission, also known as Hope, which enters orbit on 9 February. Shortly after, China's Tianwen-1 settles into the red planet's gravitational grip and in April will deploy a lander carrying a rover to the surface.

Both of these missions are groundbreaking for their countries. If they are successful, their makers will join the US, Russia, Europe and India in having successfully sent spacecraft to Mars. However, it is the third mission that is destined to capture the most headlines.