PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Number 25 (May 11, 2008) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Nic Richmond, Matt Balme Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] Cancellation of Space Policy Research Program 2. Lunar Exploration Roadmap - Input Needed 3. Outer Planets Flagship Mission Instrument Workshop 4. Second Announcement: Cosmic Cataclysms and Life 5. Planetary Pummelling: Cataclysmic Bombardment of the Solar System as Catastrophe, Catalyst, Cauldron and Crucible (GSA Technical Session T96) 6. Titan Geology: A New Frontier (GSA Technical Session T109) 7. 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] CANCELLATION OF SPACE POLICY RESEARCH PROGRAM The program element entitled "Space Policy Research" in Appendix E.6 of Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2008 is cancelled. At this time, the SMD program cannot support new investigations in this area. No Space Policy Research investigations will be solicited at this time. Go to http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH08ZDA001N". Further information about this program element is available from Dr. T. Jens Feeley, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Telephone: (202) 358-1714; Email: jens.feeley-1@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 LUNAR EXPLORATION ROADMAP - INPUT NEEDED The Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) (see http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag) has been tasked by the NASA Advisory Council to develop a Lunar Exploration Roadmap for NASA. To this end, the LEAG Executive Committee has developed a series of Themes and Goals that will be broken down into Investigations by Specific Action Teams (SATs). To aid in the development of the Exploration Roadmap, we are soliciting input from the lunar and broader LEAG communities. Specifically, we are asking that you visit the following website and comment upon the Themes and Goals. This input will be used by the SATs in their work on developing the investigations that go with the different goals. The details for accessing the web site are as follows: URL: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/survey/LEAG_ThemesGoals/ Username: leag Password: moonorbust Please note that there will be other opportunities for community input as we further develop this very important roadmap. On behalf of the LEAG, I thank you for helping us in this endeavour. Sincerely, Clive R. Neal LEAG Chair 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 OUTER PLANETS FLAGSHIP MISSION INSTRUMENT WORKSHOP Monrovia, California June 3-5, 2008 This is the 2nd announcement and call for instrument papers for the OPFM Instrument Workshop. All instrument providers planning to respond to the NASA or ESA announcements of opportunity anticipated in 2009 are strongly encouraged to participate in this workshop for an overview of both Europa/Jupiter System Mission and the Titan/Saturn System Mission studies, as well as overviews of the environmental and planetary protection constraints that will impact instrument design and development. A decision by NASA/ESA is expected in November 2008 on which flagship mission will go forward. The workshop is also soliciting contributed papers from potential instrument providers. Instrument papers will be given oral time for a summary and an extended poster session for detailed discussion. The deadline for online abstract submission is May 16. There is no fee for this workshop, but registration is mandatory for planning purposes. Please go to this URL for registration and instrument abstract submission: http://opfm.jpl.nasa.gov/InstrumentWorkshop/ For further information, contact Paula Grunthaner (paula.grunthaner@jpl.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 SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: COSMIC CATACLYSMS AND LIFE Location: ESRIN, Frascati, Italy Date: 10-14 November 2008 Abstract Deadline: 17 June 2008 A number of cataclysms have occurred in the history of the universe and the Solar System. The Symposium will review those that had a critical influence on the evolution of habitable worlds and on the emergence and survival of life on Earth, and possibly elsewhere. The sessions will discuss the following topics: - Big Bang and the formation of light elements, element nucleosynthesis in stars and Supernovae - Violent processes in star formation, interstellar/circumstellar shocks and the synthesis of molecules - Collisions and planetary formation - Formation of the Moon and its influence on Earth - Late heavy bombardment and the emergence of life - The role of impacts in inhibiting, transporting or threatening life - Hazards from stellar flares and space weather - Hazards from black holes and gamma ray bursts - Cosmic habitability, prevalence of Earth-like planets, the fate of the Earth - Historical, outreach and education aspects of cataclysms (e.g. Tunguska 1908) Updated information about the Workshop will be made on the web site: http://www.congrex.nl/08C16 Information on The European Space Agency site at Frascati can be found at: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESRIN_SITE/GGG8UIPZ0GC_0.html 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 PUMELLING: CATACLYSMIC BOMBARDMENT OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM AS CATASTROPHE, CATALYST, CAULDRON AND CRICIBLE (GSA TECHNICAL SESSION T96) Abstract deadline: June 3 Even as we approach the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, one of the more remarkable results to come out of lunar sample analyses is the hypothesis that a large number of impact events occurred on the Moon during a narrow window in time approximately 3.8 to 4.1 billion years ago (the lunar "cataclysm"). Subsequent work on the lunar and martian meteorite suites; remote sensing of the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and icy satellites; improved dynamical modeling; and investigation of terrestrial zircons extend the cataclysm hypothesis to the Earth, other terrestrial planets, and possibly the entire solar system. Renewed US and international interest in exploring the Moon offers new potential to constrain the Earth-Moon bombardment history. In light of these opportunities, this session invites the latest views on the evidence, timing and mechanism for cataclysmic bombardment of the solar system and its effects on the nascent Earth, including evidence in terrestrial rocks, effects on terrestrial systems (biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere), and questions that may be answered in a new age of exploration. GSA meeting dates: October 5-9 Location: Houston, TX https://www.acsmeetings.org/ We look forward to your contribution! Steve Mojzsis, University of Colorado Barbara Cohen, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center 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 TITAN GEOLOGY: A NEW FRONTIER (GSA TECHNICAL SESSION T109) Abstract Deadline: June 3 Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is a dynamic, Earth-like body. Clouds and rain, rivers and lakes, cryovolcanoes, and vast aeolian dunes all shape its surface. These geologic phenomena give Titan a strikingly terrestrial-style geomorphology, so that significant advances in understanding Titan are being made through analogy to terrestrial processes. Yet the materials observed spectroscopically in these processes are exotic by terran standards: Titan's crustal material is water ice, and its atmosphere synthesizes complex hydrocarbon organics. The juxtaposition of Earth-like processes and exotic materials makes Titan a unique opportunity in comparative geologic studies. This session will discuss Titan's varied geologic processes and their resultant landforms, including surface-atmosphere and surface-subsurface interactions. Contributions analyzing Cassini data, ground-based observations, terrestrial analogs, and laboratory studies, including geochemical analogues to early Earth, are all welcome. GSA meeting dates: October 5-9 Location: Houston, TX GSA Joint Annual Meeting Website: https://www.acsmeetings.org/ Conveners: Devon Burr University of Tennessee Knoxville, Carl Sagan Center/SETI Institute dburr1@utk.edu Jason Barnes University of Idaho, NASA Ames Research Center jbarnes@barnesos.net 7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html August 12-15, 2008 Colombian Congress of Astronomy and Astrophysics, COCOA 2008 http://urania.udea.edu.co/cocoa2008 Medellin, Colombia [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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