Agencies and scientists from around the world head to the UK to share space-exploration techniques
Representatives from Nasa, the European Space Agency and agencies from China, Japan and India, as well as private companies, will be sharing techniques on how to explore other worlds responsibly.
Organisers of the first International Planetary Protection Week - including Prof Karen Olsson-Francis, of Milton Keynes-based the Open University - say the issue is crucial given the recent increase in space exploration.
When samples are returned from space to Earth, similar methods are used to prevent backward contamination which could result in harmful consequences for our planet.
The more likely it is that the location of a mission could host indigenous life, the more stringent the planetary protection conditions.
Prof Karen Olsson-Francis said all the space agencies and private companies invited to the event would be there.
This week's event involves 17 space agencies, academics and representatives from the commercial space sector.
"We need to act now to make sure we don't cause any detrimental damage in space. This is an environmental issue," she said.
Silvio Sinibaldi, the European Space Agency's planetary protection officer, who will be attending the event, said we were "Living in a new era for space".
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