PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Number 23 (September 23, 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. [SPECIAL] From James Green, NASA Planetary Science Division Director - Discovery and Scout Mission Capabilities Expansion program 2. [NASA] SMD Requests Information on Space Station Utilization (Deadline: October 12) 3. [NASA] PDS Releases Additional Odyssey Radio Science Data 4. NASA 'Shoemaker Fellow' Research Position Available 5. Deadline Extended - AbSciCon 2008 Call for Abstracts 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 [SPECIAL] FROM JAMES GREEN, NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION DIRECTOR - DISCOVERY AND SCOUT MISSION CAPABILITIES EXPANSION PROGRAM On Thursday, September 20, the Planetary Science Division released a new ROSES 2007 opportunity that is looking for innovative Discovery and Mars Scout mission concepts. The Discovery and Scout Mission Capabilities Expansion (DSMCE) call solicits mission concept proposals for low cost planetary missions that require a nuclear power source such as the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) currently under development by NASA. The DSMCE program is intended to foster the formation of mission design teams, beginning the discussion of necessary engineering trades, and discovering the breadth of missions never before possible without the addition of the ASRG technology to the Discovery and/or Scout programs. Mission design assistance for these mission concepts will be offered by NASA during the 6 month studies. Full details and mission concept parameters are available in the solicitation, which is posted on the NSPIRES website (http://nspires.nasaprs.com/; select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH07ZDA001N," and look for the Discovery and Scout Mission Capabilities Expansion program). This is your chance to influence the future: if these missions are sufficiently compelling NASA will consider expanding the mission capabilities of the Discovery and Scout programs to include radioisotope power systems. Full details are available in the solicitation posted on NSPIRES. Please take a look at the solicitation and contact Curt Niebur (curt.niebur@nasa.gov) if you have any questions. 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 [NASA] SMD REQUESTS INFORMATION ON SPACE STATION UTILIZATION (DEADLINE: OCTOBER 12) The NASA Science Mission Directorate requests information on potential small Earth and space science payloads that could be deployed on the International Space Station (ISS). NASA is interested in (i) potential investigations for ISS-utilization in the post-2010 timeframe and (ii) the identification of experiments that are essentially ready-to-go and could be launched to the ISS in 2009 or 2010. In both cases, NASA is only interested in investigations, payloads, and/or experiments that contribute to NASA's science objectives in Earth and space science. This information will be used to inform NASA's program planning, including consideration of whether to solicit ISS-attached payloads in its Earth and space science program. NASA has determined that there may be payload opportunities for small Earth and space science payloads to be attached to the International Space Station. Available external attach points include both zenith and nadir pointing locations. NASA has available launch opportunities in 2009 and 2010 on the Space Shuttle and annual launch opportunities after 2010 on the Japanese HTV launch vehicle. [Editor Note: For the full announcement, go to http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "Request for Information (NNH07ZDA004R): Earth and Space Science Payloads on the International Space Station".] 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 [NASA] PDS RELEASES ADDITIONAL ODYSSEY RADIO SCIENCE DATA The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Odyssey data for the RSS instrument. To access the RSS data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20070921.html To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-Release.html All available PDS data may be downloaded from: http://starbrite.jpl.nasa.gov/pds/index.jsp For further information, see the PDS Home Page: http://pds.nasa.gov/ 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 NASA 'SHOEMAKER FELLOW' RESEARCH POSITION AVAILABLE The U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Team in Flagstaff, Arizona, has a two-year full-time research position (GS-12) now being posted online. Sponsored by the NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics (PGG) Program, this position was created in honor of Gene Shoemaker and it is known as the NASA 'Shoemaker Fellow' at USGS. The selected Fellow will work at the Astrogeology Program offices in Flagstaff on a variety of possible research projects in planetary science. The position is funded for two years by NASA PGG and is managed and supervised by the Astrogeology Team. The position will be open from 9/19/07 to 10/21/07. Please view Vacancy Announcement Number WR-2007-0590 for a position as Geologist, Geophysicist or Physical Scientist: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=62657754&AVSDM=2007 %2D09%2D19+12%3A373A56&Logo=0&jbf522=1301&lid=17277&FedEmp=N&sort=rv& vw=d&ss=0&brd=3876&FedPub=Y&caller=/series_search.asp&SUBMIT1.x=87& SUBMIT1.y=17 [Editor Note: The URL for this vacancy is very long, be careful when copying and pasting it into your browser.] 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 DEADLINE EXTENDED - ABSCICON 2008 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS The organizers of the 2008 Astrobiology Science Conference are pleased to announce that the deadline for abstract submission has been extended! The revised deadline for submission of abstracts is December 3, 2007. Abstracts should be submitted via the conference website http://abscicon.seti.org, where a complete list of topical sessions can also be found. Questions regarding submission of abstracts can be addressed to abstracts@seti.org. 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 October 8-9, 2007 Civil Society and Outer Space Forum http://www.ngocongo.org/index.php?what=events&id=10438 Vienna, Austria January 14-18, 2008 Earth-Sun System Exploration http://esse.jhuapl.edu/ Kona, Hawaii April 22-25, 2008 The Science of Solar System Ices (ScSSI): A Cross-Disciplinary Workshop Contact: gudipati@jpl.nasa.gov Oxnard, CA May 8-10, 2008 Planet Definition 2 Conference Contact: sykes@psi.edu Applied Physics Lab, MD *********************************************************************** * * 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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