PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 4, Number 26 (June 20, 2010) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Melissa Lane, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Mars Global Reference Atmospheric Model (MARS-GRAM) 2. [NASA] Discovery and New Frontiers Program "Space School Musical" 3. [NASA PDS] Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Release 2 4. Postdoctoral Position in Cosmochemistry at Washington University 5. 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 MARS GLOBAL REFERENCE ATMOSPHERIC MODEL (MARS-GRAM) Mars Global Reference Atmospheric Model (Mars-GRAM) is an engineering- level atmospheric model developed by Marshall Space Flight Center's Natural Environments Branch. Mars-GRAM is widely used for diverse mission applications. Applications include systems design, performance analysis, and operations planning for aerobraking, entry descent and landing, and aerocapture. From 0-80 km altitude, Mars-GRAM is based on NASA Ames Mars General Circulation Model (MGCM), while above 80 km it is based on Mars Thermospheric General Circulation Model (MTGCM). Mars-GRAM and MGCM use surface topography from Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter (MOLA), with altitudes referenced to the MOLA constant potential surface (areoid). Mars-GRAM has recently been reclassified as public domain software. As a result of this change, Mars-GRAM is now available upon request through the Space Environments and Effects (SEE) program website at: http://see.msfc.nasa.gov/tte/model_Marsgram.htm 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 [NASA] DISCOVERY AND NEW FRONTIERS PROGRAM "SPACE SCHOOL MUSICAL" The solar system comes alive in "Space School Musical," a new 35-minute musical play about the solar system that combines science with music, fun lyrics, and simple choreography. Students in school, afterschool programs and summer camp can move, groove, and laugh along with the planets, moons, meteors, comets, asteroids and even some rockin' scientists as they sing, dance and serve up the freshest facts in the galaxy. Kids can watch the video, learn the songs, and even perform the play themselves. There are links to hands-on activities, videos highlighting young, diverse scientists, engineers and interns at JPL, and a glossary of the terms used in the songs. Created and produced by KidTribe for NASA's Discovery and New Frontiers Programs, "Space School Musical" is is available as a free resource for everyone at: http://discovery.nasa.gov 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 PDS] LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER (LRO) RELEASE 2 The NASA Planetary Data System announces the second release of data from the LRO mission. In general, this release includes raw and derived products for data acquired from December 15, 2009 to March 14, 2010. It also includes revised versions of products from Release 1 for LOLA, LEND, Diviner, LAMP, and LROC. Details are given in the ERRATA.TXT file in each archive. Data sets from the following experiments are included: CRaTER, DLRE, LAMP, LEND, LOLA, LROC, and Mini-RF. Mini-RF data is delayed and will be available by June 22. LAMP data are expected to be released on June 17. LRO data are archived at the PDS Planetary Plasma Interactions (PPI), Geosciences, Imaging, and Navigation and Ancillary Information (NAIF) Nodes. The data may be accessed from these nodes' web sites and from the main PDS home page: http://pds.nasa.gov/ or http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20100615.html The Planetary Image Atlas at the Imaging Node allows selection of LRO data by specific search criteria. http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/lro/ The Lunar Orbital Data Explorer at the Geosciences Node allows searching and downloading of LRO data and other lunar orbital data sets (Clementine and Lunar Prospector). http://ode.rsl.wustl.edu/moon/ 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 POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN COSMOCHEMISTRY AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY The Laboratory for the Space Sciences at Washington in St. Louis has an opening for a post-doctoral research fellow in cosmochemistry. The Laboratory for the Space Sciences is engaged in multi-disciplinary research concentrating on the microanalysis of extraterrestrial materials including meteorites, interplanetary dust particles, and samples from comets, with special emphasis on the analysis of presolar grains (samples of stardust). We are seeking a scientist to participate in the study of silicon carbide grains of a supernova origin. The work will involve chemical separation of presolar grains and isotopic analysis by secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). For a general overview of our research program please visit our website: http://presolar.wustl.edu/ The fellowship is open beginning of September 2010 and is for two years. Applicants are expected to have a PhD and research experience in experimental areas related to cosmochemistry. Anyone interested in the position should send a CV, list of publication, a short statement of research goals and arrange for three letters of recommendation, sent separately. Please send applications via e-mail to Ernst Zinner ekz@wustl.edu In addition, several graduate student positions will also be available in our group. 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 MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS July 31, 2010 Chondrules: Their Role in Early Solar System History http://www.metsoc2010.org/symposium1.html New York, NY August 2-5, 2010 AIAA Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=230&lumeetingid=2109 Toronto, Canada October 19-22, 2010 Big Science with Small Telescopes: The role of 2 - 4m Telescopes in the ERA of the Large and Extremely Large Telescopes http://www.tls-tautenburg.de/tls50/tls50.php Dornburg, Germany March 7-11, 2011 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/ The Woodlands, TX Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html [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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