PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Number 36 (December 23, 2007) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Matt Balme, Nic Richmond Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [Special NASA Message] From James Green: Phase-2 of the Outer Planets Studies 2. [NASA] LCROSS Astronomer Workshop: Travel Grants Available 3. [NASA] Announces New Proposal Opportunity Entitled "Moon and Mars Analog Mission Activities" (MMAMA) 4. 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference - Second Announcement 5. 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 NASA MESSAGE] FROM JAMES GREEN: PHASE-2 OF THE OUTER PLANETS STUDIES NASA Planetary Science Division is announcing that the Phase-2 studies for this next Outer Planets Flagship (OPF) will be Europa Explorer, Jupiter System Orbiter, and Titan Explorer. These studies will be carried out in cooperation with our ESA and JAXA partners over this next fiscal year. The new studies will concentrate on the findings from the technical reviews just completed in November. We are in the process of developing new ground rules plus the necessary programmatic changes that will be needed to include our international collaborators and are working to starting them as soon as possible in the New Year. Finally I want to again recognize all the members of the four original Phase-1 study teams and the evaluation panels. Their diligent hard work is greatly appreciated. Without their tremendous support and unique scientific and technical skills we would not be at the threshold of defining the next OPF in step with our international partners. Congratulations to all! 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] LCROSS ASTRONOMER WORKSHOP: TRAVEL GRANTS AVAILABLE The LCROSS mission will impact a permanently shadowed region at the Moon's south pole, creating an ejecta plume observable from both ground and space-based assets. The LCROSS Astronomer Workshop (2/29/08) is designed for scientists interested in lunar exploration and aims to encourage the astronomy community to observe the LCROSS impacts to address scientific questions regarding the nature of polar hydrogen, impact cratering dynamics, polar regolith studies, etc. The data collected from these observational assets will complement data collected from the LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft. The LCROSS Project aims to provide as much LCROSS-relevant information to the astronomers as possible to assist with the planning of observations. The LCROSS Observation Campaign Coordinator will also facilitate the submission of a NASA LASER (Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research) proposal next year to cover time and travel expenses incurred by astronomers who have submitted successful observing proposals. TRAVEL GRANTS will be available to registered workshop participants. Funding for travel grants is provided by the Planetary Sciences Division at NASA Headquarters. Please visit the workshop website to view the agenda and to register for the workshop and travel grants: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lcross2008/ More information about the LCROSS mission is available at the mission website at http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov 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] ANNOUNCES NEW PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITY ENTITLED "MOON AND MARS ANALOG MISSION ACTIVITIES" (MMAMA) NASA Analog Missions research addresses the need for integrated interdisciplinary field experiments as an integral part of preparation for planned human and robotic missions to the Moon and Mars. The focus of this program will be on providing real scientific investigations, scientific input, and science operations constraints in the context of existing large-scale technology development and testing activities being carried out by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Funding provided in this program element is intended to supplement existing funded projects to enable researchers to integrate their instruments, projects, and/or protocols into field activities designed to help NASA achieve the Vision for Space Exploration. Notices of Intent to propose are due January 17, 2008, and proposals are due March 14, 2008. [Editor Note: The complete AO is posted on the NSPIRES website at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument /cmdocumentid=123624/C.27%20MMAMA.pdf] 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 39TH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE - SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT The 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference will be held at the South Shore Resort and Conference Center in League City, Texas, March 10-14, 2008. This conference brings together international specialists in petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, geology, and astronomy to present the latest results of research in lunar and planetary science. Go to: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2008/lpsc20082nd.shtml 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html July 8-12, 2008 Polar Research - Arctic and Antarctic Perspectives in the International Polar Year http://www.scar-iasc-ipy2008.org/ St. Petersburg, Russia [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop that you think your colleagues should be aware of, please send the date, title, URL and location to pen_editor at psi.edu.] *********************************************************************** * * 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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