PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Number 17 (August 26, 2007) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Nic Richmond Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Matt Balme Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] Astrophysics Strategic Mission Concept Studies 2. White House sets FY09 Research and Development Budget Priorities 3. Terrestrial Impact Cratering: New Insights into the Cratering Process from Geophysics and Geochemistry 4. The Plasma Environment of Saturn, its Satellites and Rings 5. European Mars Science and Exporation Conference: Mars Express & ExoMars 6. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions o---------------------------------------------------------------------o 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 [NASA] ASTROPHYSICS STRATEGIC MISSION CONCEPT STUDIES [Editor Note: NASA astrophysics missions often conduct planetary investigations, and capabilities for conducting such studies is often a factor in mission design.] This amendment establishes a new program element in Appendix D.12 of ROSES-2007 entitled "Astrophysics Strategic Mission Concept Studies." This new program element solicits concept studies for strategic space flight science missions that may be carried out in the next decade or for which technology development funding is sought in the next decade. These concept studies will be used for midterm and far-term forward planning of a diverse astrophysics mission portfolio and for obtaining a simultaneous and uniform assessment of future technology development needs for the Astrophysics Division. Study results and information related to the technical maturity of proposed mission components are expected to be provided as input to the panels convened by the National Research Council for the upcoming 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Notices of Intent to propose are due September 20, 2007, and proposals are due November 20, 2007. On or about August 22, 2007, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2007" (NNH07ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH07ZDA001N"). Further information about this program element is available from Dr. Eric P. Smith, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Telephone: (202) 358-2439; E-mail: Eric.P.Smith@nasa.gov. 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 WHITE HOUSE SETS FY09 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET PRIORITIES PEN readers are directed to The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News at http://www.aip.org/fyi/2007/089.html "Last week, Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Marburger and Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Stephen McMillin sent a seven-page memo to the heads of executive departments and agencies on the "FY 2009 Administration Research and Development Budget Priorities." This document reaffirms the American Competitiveness Initiative as a Presidential Priority, provides general R&D program guidance, outlines interagency R&D priorities in nine areas, and briefly reviews the Administration's ongoing R&D investment criteria." [Editor Note: NASA is not included.] 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 TERRESTRIAL IMPACT CRATERING: NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE CRATERING PROCESS FROM GEOPHYSICS AND GEOCHEMISTRY We would like to encourage submission of abstracts on any topic related to impact cratering (terrestrial and planetary) to Union Session U03, described below, at the Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco, December 10-14, 2007. See details of the meeting at: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/ The abstract submission deadline is 6 September 2007, 2359 UT. Abstract Submissions at: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/?content=program Session Description: Impact craters record important processes in the geologic history of the Earth, with effects ranging from the formation of the Moon, to the production of environments for rapid sedimentation, to the formation of structural traps for oil, to the genesis of mass extinctions due to modification of the environment. Recent modeling efforts, analysis of materials recovered from drilling (e.g., Chesapeake Bay, Bosumtwi) have allowed new insights into the cratering process. Papers are invited on all aspects of the cratering process, its signature in the geologic record, and its influence on the environment. Conveners: Jeff Plescia (APL-Johns Hopkins University; jeffrey.plescia@jhuapl.edu), and Christian Koeberl (University of Vienna, christian.koeberl@univie.ac.at). 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 THE PLASMA ENVIRONMENT OF SATURN, ITS SATELLITES AND RINGS Planetary Sciences session P11 at the Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco, December 10-14, 2007 (http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm07/). Conveners: Tamas I. Gombosi (tamas@umich.edu) Kenneth C. Hansen (kenhan@umich.edu) Sponsor: Planetary Sciences CoSponsor: SPA - Magnetospheric Physics Index Terms: 5737 5719 6270 6280 2756. Description: New results from the instrument suite on the Cassini spacecraft are drastically changing our understanding of the intricate interplay between Saturn's magnetosphere and the plasma environments of its satellites and rings. This session will focus on a synthesis of observations, models and theory. It will consist of a combination of invited and and contributed talks as well as posters. Deadlines: - 6 September: Abstract Deadline for Electronic Submissions - 2 November: Pre-Registration Deadline 5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 EUROPEAN MARS SCIENCE AND EXPORATION CONFERENCE: MARS EXPRESS & EXOMARS 12-16 November 2007 ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, by the European Space Agency. After four years in orbit around the Red Planet, it is time to reflect on the many discoveries of Mars Express in all fields, from the Martian interior and subsurface structure to its surface morphology, geology and mineralogy, its atmospheric composition, dynamics and climate, and its interaction with the space environment. Also, preparations are gearing up for the next step in the European exploration of Mars with the ExoMars mission, which comprises a capable rover devoted to astrobiological studies with access to the subsurface, and possibly a geophysical package and a scientific and communications orbiter. Second announcement: http://www.rssd.esa.int/mars07/ Abstract deadline: 14 September 2007 http://www.congrex.nl/07a10/abstract.asp 6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html December 6-8, 2007 SOFIA's 2020 Vision Scientific and Technological Opportunities Workshop Pasadena, CA http://www.sofia-vision.caltech.edu/ September 19-21, 2007 50 Years in Space: Aerospace Conference Celebrating 50 Years of Space Technology Pasadena, California http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/space50/ November 1-3, 2007 Workshop to Develop a National Plan for Preserving Astronomical Photographic Data Rosman, NC http://www.pari.edu/library/astronomical-plate-center/workshop/ December 10-22, 2007 1st Asia Pacific School on International Heliophysical Year Bangalore, India http://www.iiap.res.in/ihy/school/ January 29-31, 2008 Science with the new Hubble Space Telescope after Servicing Mission 4 Bologna, Italy http://www.iasfbo.inaf.it/bawhst/ February 18-22, 2008 The Early Phase of Planet Formation Tuebingen, Germany http://www.tat.physik.uni-tuebingen.de/~fgp/WS08/ March 10-14, 2008 DARWIN/TPF 2008 Naples, Italy http://www.na.astro.it/darwin-tpf/ March 24-26, 2008 Titan - Observations, Experiments, Computations, and Modeling Miami, Florida http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/Bil301/Titan2008.html *********************************************************************** * * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at * * http://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_subscribe.html * * To unsubscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_unsubscribe.html * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor at psi.edu. * Announcements and other messages should be brief with links to URLs * for extended information, including detailed descriptions for job * announcements. 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