PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 4, Number 19 (May 9, 2010) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Melissa Lane, Nic Richmond Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Editorial: Uninformed Congressional Action Agains NASA Uncosted Carryover and NASA's Response are not Good for Research Programs 2. Suborbital Applications Researchers Group 3. Job Announcement: Astrogeology Interdisciplinary Position at USGS 4. [NASA] The Venus Climate Orbiter Participating Scientist Program (VCO PSP) 5. Dusty Visions 2010 6. EPSC 2010 - abstract deadline postponed 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 EDITORIAL: UNINFORMED CONGRESSIONAL ACTION AGAINST NASA UNCOSTED CARRYOVER AND NASA's RESPONSE ARE NOT GOOD FOR RESEARCH PROGRAMS Mark V. Sykes Planetary Science Institute In report language for the 2010 Omnibus budget bill, Congress threatened NASA. Significantly reduce the amount of funds carried over from one fiscal year to the next or Congress would consider limiting NASA funding to one year with 10% to be allocated as two-year funding (effectively limiting agency carryover to 5%). NASA had carried over 22% of its budget from fiscal year 2009 to 2010, of which 6% is associated with research programs. Congress did not investigate the level of carryover needed for the efficient management of NASA's programs. In response, NASA is focusing on reducing carryover in research programs, primarily the less than 2% portion of the above that is carryover from more than one fiscal year. A significant portion of NASA research program carryover is by design to ensure efficient management. Congress needs to relieve the pressure it has placed on NASA research programs, and NASA's response to that pressure must not negatively impact those programs. Go to: http://www.planetarypolicy.org/carryover_editorial_100509.pdf 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 SUBORBITAL APPLICATIONS RESEARCHERS GROUP The Suborbital Applications Researchers Group (SARG), a committee of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, wishes to make planetary researchers aware of the coming capabilities of new generation suborbital vehicles and programs. Such vehicles have promising applications to both planetary microgravity research and planetary astronomy. More information can be obtained at: http://suborbitalex.arc.nasa.gov/platforms and the associated web pages at this NASA web site. 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 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: ASTROGEOLOGY INTERDISCIPLINARY POSTIION AT USGS The U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, AZ invites applicants for one or more full-time permanent interdisciplinary positions that may be filled as a Physical Scientist, Geophysicist, Cartographer, Geodesist or Mathematician (GS-9/11/12, GS-13*). This is a high-profile, high-impact opportunity to support NASA planetary missions and science studies by developing new planetary topographic mapping techniques and supporting planetary cartographic projects. *GS-9: $47,448 - $61,678; GS-11: $57,408 - $74,628; GS-12: $68,809 - $89,450 For position details, and to apply on-line, visit: http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/a9IN08i.aspx Search for one of the following job announcement numbers based on employment and veteran status: Open to all U.S. citizens: WR-2010-0248 - GS-9/11/12 WR-2010-0303 - GS-13 Open only to current and former Federal employees and certain veterans: WR-2010-0342 - GS-9/11/12 WR-2010-0344 - GS-13 Applicants must apply online at the USAJOBS site to be considered and must be U.S. citizens. Hard copy applications are not accepted. Positions close June 4, 2010. 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] THE VENUS CLIMATE ORBITER PARTICIPATING SCIENTIST PROGRAM (VCO PSP) The objectives of the VCO PSP are to enhance, aid in data archival, and supplement Venus science to be performed by the Venus Climate Orbiter (VCO, or AKATSUKI). The VCO PSP investigations aim to understand the atmospheric circulation using global atmospheric mapping by utilizing VCO's five cameras (from UV to IR wavelengths), and by measuring the vertical structure of the atmosphere with radio occultation techniques. VCO's systematic, and continuous observations should provide a complete dataset of the Venusian atmospheric dynamics that complements the Venus Express observations and prior Venus missions. Up to two Participating Scientists in residence will be selected to reside in Japan (ISAS) and work with the VCO Science Team to reduce and archive data. NOI Date: June 11, 2010 Proposal Due Date: August 6, 2010 Go to http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Questions concerning this program may be addressed to: Adriana Ocampo, Planetary Science Division Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters Washington, DC 20546-0001 Telephone: (202) 358-2152 Email: aco@nasa.gov [Editor's Note: Reduced for length.] 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 DUSTY VISIONS 2010 A workshop on Dust Spectroscopy and Dust Astronomy 14 to 16 July 2010, Goettingen, Germany Deadline for registration and abstract Submission: 15 May 2010 Please register via: http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/dustgroup/dusty_visions_2010/ Objectives: In a workshop style we want to discuss the present state and new venues in cosmic dust research. Fields that will be covered include: Circumplanetary Dust and Dusty Rings Cometary Dust Interplanetary Meteoroids, Kuiper Belt Dust and Solar Dust Lunar Dust Interstellar Dust Extrasolar Dust Rings Dust Compositional Analysis Laboratory Measurements Missions and Techniques Space Debris Scientific Organizing Committee: Juergen Blum (Universitaet Braunschweig), Cecile Engrand (CSNSM CNRS-Univ. Paris Sud), Simon Geen (Open University, Milton Keynes), Amara Graps (SwRI, Boulder), Eberhard Gruen (MPIK Heidelberg), Mihaly Horanyi (LASP & Univ. of Colorado), Alexander Krivov (Universitaet Jena), Harald Krueger (MPS Katlenburg-Lindau), Juergen Schmidt (Universitaet Potsdam), Ralf Srama (MPIK Heidelberg), Mario Trieloff (Universitaet Heidelberg) Local Host: Harald Krueger (krueger@mps.mpg.de) Max-Planck-Institut fuer Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau Social Programme: Conference dinner on Wednesday, 14 July, in a German beer garden, weather permitting. On Saturday, 17 July, we plan to organize a full-day trip to the Brocken, the highest mountain in Northern Germany (elevation 1141m). Details TBA. Further information contact: dv2010@mpi-hd.mpg.de [Editor Note: Shortened in length.] 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 EPSC 2010 - ABSTRACT DEADLINE POSTPONED Dear colleagues, please note that the abstract deadline for EPSC 2010 has been moved back to May 26, 2010. Kind regards, Co-Conveners and Convener from SB2 "Comets, Asteroids and TNO's" 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 November 1-5, 2010 International Young Astronomer School on High Angular Resolution Techniques (2010) http://ufe.obspm.fr/rubrique256.html Paris, France July 18-22, 2011 From Interacting Binaries to Exoplanets:Essential Modeling Tools http://www.astro.sk/IB2E/ Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia [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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