PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Number 40 (August 17, 2008) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Matt Balme Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Nic Richmond Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] PDS Releases Rosetta IES (RPC) Data 2. ESA Postdoctoral Fellowships in Space Science - Deadline 1st October 2008 3. MEPAG Invitation 4. Fall AGU Session: New Developments in the Study of Fluvial Systems on Mars 5. Assistant Research Physicist: Mars Space Physics and Geophysics 6. Outer Planets Colloquium Series 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] PDS RELEASES ROSETTA IES (RPC) DATA The NASA Planetary Data System is pleased to announce the delivery of data from the Ion and Electron Sensor of ROSETTA Orbiter Plasma Consortium. The delivery includes raw and calibrated data from the COMMISSIONING, CHECKOUT, EARTH SWING-BY, and MARS SWING-BY phases of the Rosetta mission. To see and download the data as well as mission and instrument information, go to: http://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/missions/rosetta/index.html 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 ESA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN SPACE SCIENCE - DEADLINE 1ST OCTOBER 2008 The European Space Agency awards several postdoctoral fellowships each year. The aim of these fellowships is to provide young scientists, holding a PhD or the equivalent degree, with the means of performing space science research in fields related to the ESA Science Programme. Areas of research include planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics, solar and solar-terrestrial science, plasma physics and fundamental physics. The fellowships are tenable at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands, or at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villafranca del Castillo, near Madrid, Spain. Applications are solicited for fellowships in space science to begin in summer or fall 2009. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD. Candidates not holding a PhD yet are encouraged to apply, but they must provide evidence of receiving their degree before starting the fellowship. The deadline for applications is 1 October 2008. More information on the ESA Research Fellowship programme in Space Science, on the conditions and eligibility, as well as the application form can be found at: http://www.rssd.esa.int/fellowship For more information e-mail Guido De Marchi, fellowship@rssd.esa.int 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 MEPAG INVITATION You are invited to attend the next meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG), on September 18, 2008 at the DoubleTree Hotel, Monrovia, CA. This follows the 3rd MSL Landing Site Workshop, which runs September 15-17 in the same venue. This meeting comes after a spring and summer of exciting science and exploration on Mars. In addition, our hard work at the last meeting has already benefited the Mars Program. Key agenda topics will include: o Results and Implications of the Phoenix mission. o Discussion of Mars program status and future planning, including potential international collaborations. o Outbriefs from recent Mars Architecture Tiger Team (MATT) and IMARS activities. This will include discussions of options for the 2016-2018 opportunities and Mars Sample Return options. White papers from many of these groups will be published at http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/index.html before the meeting. Please read these papers before the meeting so you can fully participate in the discussions. o Planning for additional MEPAG work. The meeting is open to all members of the Mars science community, including international colleagues, and broadcast via WebEx for those who cannot attend in person. I hope you can attend. Sincerely, Dr. Jack Mustard MEPAG Chair [Editor's note: This item has been modified from its original so as to meet the 200 word limit for PEN submissions] 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 FALL AGU SESSION: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE STUDY OF FLUVIAL SYSTEMS ON MARS 2008 Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, December 15-19 Abstract submission deadline: September 10th, 2008 P11: New Developments in the Study of Fluvial Systems on Mars Sponsor: Planetary Sciences Cosponsor: Hydrology Conveners: Alexandra Davatzes (Temple University), Virginia Gulick (NASA Ames/SETI) The successes of recent Mars missions provide opportunities for integrating multiple data sets to shed new light on fluvial and hydrothermal processes on Mars. Current and recent missions, including MRO, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and MGS have produced a range of imaging, spectral, and other data sets that together can place powerful constraints on the surface and subsurface conditions and processes that led to surface and groundwater flow and the eventual formation of fluvial features on the surface of Mars. Integrating these various data sets (e.g., high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy with measures of subsurface water abundance) is essential for testing existing hypotheses and developing new insights on the formation of fluvial and hydrothermal surface features including outflows from fractures and possible spring mounds. We invite abstracts reporting such studies including work on understanding the formation of gullies, outflow channels, large valley systems and valley networks on Mars. http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/ [Editor's note: This item has been modified from its original so as to meet the 200 word limit for PEN submissions] 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 ASSISTANT RESEARCH PHYSICIST: MARS SPACE PHYSICS AND GEOPHYSICS The Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, seeks to fill an Assistant Research Physicist position in the area of Mars space physics and geophysics. Topics of interest are the Mars-solar wind interaction, the night-side ionosphere, the effects of solar energetic particle events and solar storms on the atmosphere, atmospheric loss and resulting climate evolution, the dynamic thermosphere and the effects of dust storms thereon, magnetic effects of large meteorite impacts, volcanic, magmatic and tectonic evolution studies through observations of thermal demagnetization and the history of the now-extinct Martian global magnetic field. Applicants must have a Ph.D. related to space or Planetary physics and at least two years of postdoctoral experience in some of these areas, with a track record of publication in the Mars community. Analytical and programming skills are required for both data analysis and modeling. Familiarity with IDL and hardware experience is preferable. Interested applicants should send a curriculum vitae, list of publications, statement of research interests, and contact details for at least three references to Daniele Meilhan Space Sciences Laboratory 7 Gauss Way University of California Berkeley CA 94720 Applications must be received by 9/1/08. 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 OUTER PLANETS COLLOQUIUM SERIES Would your institution like a visit and colloquium presentation this Fall from an expert in outer solar system science, at no expense to you? Would you like travel support to share your outer solar system research? Presenters and host institutions are sought for the Outer Planets Colloquium Series, a program that matches planetary scientists with university campuses and research institutions. Participation is open to two- and four-year undergraduate colleges, and to research institutions throughout the United States. Host institutions commit to making the necessary local arrangements. Presenters are encouraged to address the needs of the next generation of scientists (graduate students, interns, and undergraduates) and to give an additional presentation that is free and open to the general public. Other interactions that increase awareness of outer solar system science may also be considered as part of the visit. These may include guest teaching a class, interacting informally with students and faculty, visiting local precollege campuses, or other outreach activities. A range of topics is anticipated on the basis of speaker participation. The Colloquium Series will cover the presenter's travel expenses. There will be no honorarium for the speaker. For application details and further information see: http://outerplanets.jpl.nasa.gov/ 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 September 12, 2008 Astrochemistry Young Researchers Meeting http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/chemistry/outreach/youngastrochem2008.php Nottingham, United Kingdom February 10-12, 2009 Space Nuclear Systems Forum http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/nuclear2009/ Houston, TX February 13-19, 2009 New Views on the Earth's Interior http://www.minersoc.org/pages/groups/minphys/minphys.html Cambridge, United Kingdom May 4-9, 2009 The Search for Life in the Universe Contact: Marc Postman, postman@stsci.edu Baltimore, MD [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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