PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Number 21 (May 3, 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. EPSC Session on Exploring the Martian Moons 2. "Discoveries in Planetary Science" Classroom Powerpoints 3. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 4. OSEWG 2009 Workshop on Robots Supporting Human Science and Exploration 5. [NASA] PDS Final Release of Phoenix Data 6. [NASA] Group 5 University Research Centers (URC) Announcement 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 EPSC SESSION ON EXPLORING THE MARTIAN MOONS A session on "Exploring the Martian moons" is organised at the upcoming EPSC conference, to be held in Potsdam (Germany) on 13-18 September 2009. We invite papers on the results of past or present planetary missions on the Martian Moons, and on Phobos in particular. The following topics can be addressed: position, interior, mass determination, volume, subsurface, surface properties, temperatures, composition, geology, origin, solar wind interaction. Papers on the future mission Phobos-Grunt are welcome. Ground-based observations results are also relevant. Deadline: 8 May 2009 http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2009/session/1765 Conveners: O. Witasse and T. Duxbury 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 "DISCOVERIES IN PLANETARY SCIENCE" CLASSROOM POWERPOINTS The Education Subcommittee of the AAS Division for Planetary Sciences announces the inaugural release of "Discoveries in Planetary Science" Classroom Powerpoints. These are succinct summaries of discoveries too recent to appear in "Intro Astronomy" college textbooks; each set consists of just three slides to be shown: the discovery itself, a basic explanation based on good planetary science, and the "big picture" context. Another page for further information is provided as well. The first set covers Mars Methane, Extrasolar Planet Imaging, The Chaotic Early Solar System, Mars Sulfur Chemistry, and Mercury Volcanism. Powerpoints and pdf's can be downloaded from http://dps.aas.org/education/dpsdisc. Planetary scientists with recent or upcoming results of broad interest are encouraged to submit them for consideration by providing an initial draft using the template provided on the website. For more information, contact Nick Schneider & Dave Brain at dpsdisc@aas.org 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The May 'Image of the month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/may09image.html This month's topic is on layered sediments in Martian craters 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 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 OSEWG 2009 WORKSHOP ON ROBOTS SUPPORTING HUMAN SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION August 5-6, 2009 Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Universities Space Research Association (USRA) 3600 Bay Area Boulevard Houston, Texas, 77058. This workshop will investigate how robotics might best be used to support a sustainable program of human exploration and science on the Moon. The objective is to identify areas where high-priority lunar science needs can be met with space robotics capabilities, while fostering improved understanding and communication between the communities. The workshop will engage the Lunar Science and Space Robotics communities to include expertise from both domains. URL for more information: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/osewg2009/osewg20091st.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 [NASA] PDS FINAL RELEASE OF PHOENIX DATA The NASA Planetary Data System announces the third and final release of data from the Mars Phoenix Lander mission. This release includes raw and derived data products from Sols 91 through 152, July 27 - October 29, 2008. Data are being released for the following experiments: ASE - EDRs only MET LIDAR and Pressure-Temperature Sensors (includes reprocessing of data from Releases 1 and 2.) MECA (TECP, AFM, and WCL only; AFM RDRs to be released by approximately June 1, 2009) TEGA Telltale Anemometer For OM, RAC and SSI data, please check the Imaging Node site for release status: http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov. Phoenix data are archived at the PDS Atmospheres, Geosciences, and Imaging Nodes. The data may be accessed from these nodes' web sites or from http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20090429.html PDS offers two services for searching the Phoenix archives: The Planetary Image Atlas at the Imaging Node allows selection of Phoenix data by specific search criteria. http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/phoenix/ The Phoenix Analyst's Notebook at the Geosciences Node allows searching and browsing of Phoenix data in the context of mission events, for the expert user. http://an.rsl.wustl.edu/phx To receive email announcements of PDS data releases, please use the PDS Subscription Service at http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/top.cfm. 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 [NASA] GROUP 5 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTERS (URC) ANNOUNCEMENT The NASA Office of Education, Integration Division, Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP) has released a solicitation for proposals for the NASA Group 5 University Research Centers (URC), Announcement Number NNH09ZNE003C. This solicitation is in cooperation with NASA's four Mission Directorates - Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems, Science, and Space Operations and NASA's ten Field Centers. Each University Research Center (URC) is expected to be a multi-disciplinary scientific, engineering and/or commercial research center designed to provide a broad-based, competitive NASA-related research capability among the Nation's Minority Institutions, foster new aerospace science and technology concepts, provide mechanisms for expanded participation by faculty and students of Minority Institutions in mainstream research, and increase the number of underrepresented and underserved U.S. students obtaining advanced degrees in NASA-related fields and entering the aerospace workforce. All institutions designated by the Department of Education as a Historically Black College or University, Hispanic-Serving Institution, or Minority-Serving Institution are eligible to apply for this cooperative agreement funding opportunity. Notices of Intent are due May 22, 2009. The closing date for receipt of proposals is June 19, 2009. Go to http://nspires.nasaprs.com/, click "Solicitations", and then "Open Solicitations". 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 May 24-27, 2009 2009 Joint Assembly: The Meeting of the Americas (CGU, GAC, IAH-CNC, MAC, SEG, MSA, GS, AGU) http://www.agu.org/meetings/ja09/ Toronto, Canada August 5-6, 2009 OSEWG 2009 Workshop on Robots Supporting Human Science and Exploration http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/osewg2009/osewg20091st.shtml Houston, TX October 12-14, 2009 Geological Mapping of Mars: A Workshop on New Concepts and Tools http://www.irsps.unich.it/education/mapping09/ Il Ciocco, Italy [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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