PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Number 16 (April 5, 2009) 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. Post-doctoral Research Associate on the Cassini-Huygens Mission 2. Community Letter for Outer Planet Flagship Mission 3. [NASA] Announcement of Opportunity for New Frontiers 2009 4. [NASA] PDS Releases Tables of Mean Motion Resonances of Saturn's Main Rings 5. Geomorphology Image of the Month 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 POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE ON THE CASSINI-HUYGENS MISSION University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory is seeking a postdoctoral Research Associate to work on Cassini data analysis within the Planetary Science Group. MSSL is the UK's largest university-based space science research institution and is involved in many leading space research missions (http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/). The post is concerned with the scientific analysis of data from the Electron Spectrometer, part of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer. The successful candidate will join a team working on data analysis of physical processes at work in Saturn's rapidly rotating magnetosphere (sources, transport, reconnection, high latitude effects), in the magnetosphere's interactions with moons (particularly Titan, Enceladus and other icy satellites), and with neutral particles and dust (e.g. E-ring and main ring populations). Responsibilities involve the structure and dynamics of Saturn's magnetosphere, and/or its interactions with Titan and other bodies. PhD in physics or a closely-related field (ideally planetary or space plasma physics) required. Experience in particle or plasma data analysis an advantage. Appointment will nominally commence 1 October 2009, is funded until March 2010 with possible extension to 2012 and later. Salary will be on UCL salary Grade 7. Further information at http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/jobs. Closing date Friday, 1st May 2009 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 COMMUNITY LETTER FOR OUTER PLANET FLAGSHIP MISSION The Europa Jupiter System Mission is first priority for the Outer Planet Flagship Missions and involves the NASA Jupiter Europa Orbiter, ESA Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter, and possibly other elements, such as a JAXA Magnetospheric Orbiter. In addition to Europa and Ganymede, substantial Jupiter system science will be conducted. The science objectives were defined (http://opfm.jpl.nasa.gov/library/) and the mission is in the next stage of development. Goals include strengthening the science return, encouraging planetary community involvement, and ensuring support by relevant space agencies. Workshops are planned to assist potential instrument providers for addressing radiation and planetary protection issues, with the first workshop July 15-17 at the Applied Physics Laboratory, Maryland. In addition, Jupiter-system sessions are planned for near-term meetings, such as the European Planetary Science Conference this fall in Potsdam. More broadly, next year marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's discovery of Jupiter's moons, and special events could mark the occasion. Your ideas, help, and participation in related activities is encouraged. On behalf of the Joint Science Definition Team, please contact Greeley@asu.edu if you have ideas for activities and/or would like to get involved in some capacity. 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] ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW FRONTIERS 2009 Release Date: April 20, 2009 Notice of Intent Due: June 12, 2009 Proposals Due: July 31, 2009 NASA expects to select up to three New Frontiers mission proposals for a 10 month Phase A study. Following evaluation of Phase A reports, NASA expects to approve one New Frontiers mission to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. Launch will occur no earlier than late CY 2016 and no later than CY 2018. Proposed missions must address the science objectives of one of the eight mission concepts identified in the National Research Council's 2007 report, Opening New Frontiers in Space: Choices for the Next New Frontiers Announcement of Opportunity. Participation is open to all categories of organizations (U.S. and non-U.S), including educational, industrial, and not-for-profit organizations, FFRDCs, University Affiliated Research Centers, NASA Centers, JPL, and other Government agencies. Upon the release date, the full text of the AO and all appendices will be available electronically at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/. A preproposal conference will be held June 3, 2009, in the Washington, DC, area; see http://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/ for details. Direct questions to: Dr. Thomas H. Morgan, New Frontiers Program Scientist (202) 358-0828 Thomas.H.Morgan@nasa.gov (subject: "NEW FRONTIERS AO") 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] PDS RELEASES TABLES OF MEAN MOTION RESONANCES OF SATURN'S MAIN RINGS Tables of mean motion resonances in the main rings of Saturn are available through the NASA Planetary Data System. The tables give resonance locations and the low order terms from the expansion of the disturbing function for resonances up to 4th order (2nd order for Pan and Daphnis). You can obtain more information and browse or download the tables at http://pds-rings.seti.org/resonance/. 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 GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The April 'Image of the month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/apr09image.html This month's topic is on Linear-Lee Dunes on Mars and Earth Past images and captions are available at http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/index.html Mary Bourke Coordinator of the IAG Working Group on Planetary Geomorphology 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 June 1-6, 2009 Summer School in Statistics for Astronomers V http://astrostatistics.psu.edu/su09 University Park, PA June 29-July 3, 2009 ASTROCAM School: Young Stellar Objects: From Cool Stars to Exoplanets http://www.astrocam.es/school09/ Madrid, Spain August 10-13, 2009 Astronomy and Civilization http://www.konkoly.hu/AC2009/ Budapest, Hungary [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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