The European Space Agency, ESA, has planned for a space probe to visit Mars and return with samples.  One of the scientific aims is to examine the returned samples to determine whether there is, or ever was, life on Mars.  It follows that the returned samples must be kept free from any contamination from the earth whilst they are being examined, and also kept from causing any potential contamination of the earth's biosphere.  So the samples have to be kept isolated yet examined and subjected to scientific tests.

STC worked with a small team selected by the ESA.  The team was led by SEA, Systems Engineering & Assessment, with contributions from scientists from the Health Protection Agency, The Natural History Museam, and Imperial College.