NASA left a camera on the moon for 31 months; when Apollo 12 brought it home, scientists found bacteria that appeared to be alive

After 31 months on the moon, a bacterium discovered on the Surveyor III camera is believed to be a case of contamination. A thorough re-evaluation of the lab tests from 1970 revealed procedural flaws, emphasizing the necessity for stringent planetary protection protocols. With modern missions incorporating extensive cleaning and sterilization, this past incident serves as a crucial lesson for space agencies to ensure contamination control.