PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 4, Number 34 (August 15, 2010) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Melissa Lane Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. AGU Session: Mineralogical Studies of Impact Craters 2. AGU Session: Fluvial Morphology and Past Climate on Planet Mars 3. AGU Session: South Pole-Aitken Basin, New Insights 4. AGU Session: Eyes on Enceladus 5. [NASA] PDS Releases Phoenix Robotic Arm Delivered Data 6. Vacancy for PhD Candidate 7. Stardust Sample Catalog 8. Expedited Stardust Sample TEM Sample Allocation Policy 9. [NASA] Discovery 2010 AO New Data Requirement and Delay of Due Date 10. Amelua Earhart Fellowship 11. Job Opportunity 12. 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 AGU SESSION: MINERALOGICAL STUDIES OF IMPACT CRATERS http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm10/program/scientific_session_search.php ?show=detail&sessid=544 P02: Mineralogical Studies of Impact Craters: Exhumed Crust, Hydrothermal Processes, and Post-Impact Weathering Impact craters sometimes contain unique mineralogy associated with central peaks, exposures in crater rims, and ejecta. Alteration mineralogy in impact craters can correspond to previously altered basement rock uplifted/exhumed from depth, hydrothermal alteration associated with the impact, or post-impact chemical weathering facilitated by shock and fragmentation. Presentations discussing any of these topics, dealing with field observations, remote sensing studies, modeling, or experimental work are solicited for this session. 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 AGU SESSION: FLUVIAL MORPHOLOGY AND PAST CLIMATE ON PLANET MARS Please consider submiting an abstract to session EP 17: Fluvial Morphology and Past Climate on Planet Mars at the Fall 2010 American Geophysical Union Conference, abstract submission deadline September 2nd. See http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm10/ Convenors: Germari de Villiers and Maarten Kleinhans, Fac. of Geosciences, Universiteit Utrecht, the Netherlands High resolution images and digital elevation models have stimulated detailed work on fluvial morphology on Mars, ranging from gullies to channels, alluvial fans and fan deltas, and the mega-outflow channels. Yet, basic formative processes are still heavily debated, such as the role of groundwater sapping and precipitation, or fan and delta formation. Also the magnitude, duration and timing of activity are rather variable. The underlying nature of the past hydrology remains therefore poorly understood. This session aims to bring together fluvial morphological studies by remote sensing, modelling, experimentation and analogues on Earth conducted to unravel the past climate of Mars. 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 AGU SESSION: SOUTH POLE-AITKEN BASIN, NEW INSIGHTS We would like to invite contributions from the planetary community to Fall AGU session P21: South Pole-Aitken Basin, New Insights. As the largest and oldest of the recognizable basins on the Moon, the South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA) holds many keys to understanding the impact history, crustal formation, and global distribution of crustal materials. Data from previous lunar missions showed the interior of the basin to be unique. However, it is the data from the most recent lunar missions that provide the clearest views of the composition, age of surface units, and structure of SPA's interior. We invite submissions focusing on SPA that cover a range of topics, from models of SPA formation to data from recent lunar missions to petrologic modeling of how compositions in SPA fit into models of lunar crust formation. The deadline to submit an abstract is to AGU is 02 September 2010 - 23:59 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) or 03:59+1 GMT. 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 AGU SESSION: EYES ON ENCELADUS Conveners: Carolyn Porco and Chris McKay This special session (P05) continues a successful 5-year-long AGU tradition to join planetary scientists and astrobiologists involved in the study of Saturn's moon Enceladus for a close-up look at this active body. In the past 6 years, Cassini has made several very close flybys of Enceladus, and several more are planned during Cassini's upcoming 'Solstice' mission. Observational and theoretical results accumulated thus far indicate a high likelihood that this body houses within it a liquid-water, organics-rich environment. In this session, we will focus on the most recent observational, theoretical and modeling results on the chemistry, state and dynamics of Enceladus' jets and plumes, the moon's thermal and interior state (including its putative south-polar sea), geologic activity, as well as its astrobiological potential. (New results from the 2010 Cassini flybys of Enceladus focused on these research areas should be directed to this session.) As in years past, we look forward to a popular and stimulating discussion. For more information about the meeting or to submit an abstract, see: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm10/ Please direct questions about the session to carolyn@ciclops.org 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 RELEASES PHOENIX ROBOTIC ARM DELIVERED DATA The Planetary Data System announces the release of the Phoenix Robotic Arm Derived Data Set. This data set consists of RA scoop tip position data and components of force for both the RA on Phoenix and the RA in the Payload Interoperability Testbed at JPL. These data have been derived from raw RA telemetry data, which are not archived in PDS due to ITAR restrictions. To access this data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20100810.html 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 VACANCY FOR PHD CANDIDATE Channel and box canyon formation on planet Mars http://www.geog.uu.nl/fg/mkleinhans/projects/mars.htm http://www.geog.uu.nl/fg/mkleinhans/projects/vacancy72180.pdf 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 STARDUST SAMPLE CATALOG The new Stardust Sample Catalog is finally on line at: http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/stardust/catalog/ We are still entering data received from Stardust investigators, and we welcome any Stardust sample analysis results you have produced. If you have any comments, suggestions, or if you see any problems with the Catalog please contact the Catalog Manager directly at nancy.s.todd@nasa.gov 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8 EXPEDITED STARDUST SAMPLE TEM SAMPLE ALLOCATION POLICY Successive (rolling) allocation of grids for TEM analysis by researchers with TEM expertise will be routinely approved in batches of 1 to 2 grids from up to 5 particles at a time, i.e., 10 or fewer grids. These grids may be either samples already in the catalog or from new particles, although existing TEM grids can be allocated much more rapidly. One batch (10 or fewer grids) will be allocated to a PI at a time. The first batch must be returned to the collection by the PI, and summary reports must be submitted to and approved by the Curator and the Stardust Sample Allocation Committee, prior to allocation of the a new batch of grids. The summary reports will be input into the Stardust Sample Catalog. As we have been doing from day one, one grid from each particle will be held in reserve by the Curator for posterity. For more details contact Mike Zolensky at michael.e.zolensky@nasa.gov. 9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9 [NASA] DISCOVERY 2010 AO NEW DATA REQUIREMENT AND DELAY OF DUE DATE The NASA Announcement of Opportunity (AO) NNH10ZDA007O, "Discovery 2010," has been amended to add a new requirement for provision of sufficient data to permit an independent assessment of the proposed mission design and trajectory. Requirement B-30A has been added to require provision of sufficient data to permit an independent assessment of the proposed mission design and trajectory. Recognizing the late date of this additional requirement, these additional data may be provided in a file or files on the CD containing the electronic version of the proposal. There is no requirement that these data also be included in the hardcopy proposal. To accommodate the late date of this additional requirement, the proposal due date has been extended by one week. Proposals are due on September 10, 2010. Questions concerning the Discovery 2010 AO may be addressed to Dr. Michael H. New (202) 358-1766 Michael.H.New@nasa.gov (subject line to read "DISCOVERY AO") 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 AMELIA EARHART FELLOWSHIP Zonta International is a service organization with a mission to advance the status of women, worldwide. They established the Amelia Earhart Fellowships in 1938 and since then, Zonta has awarded 1,297 of these Fellowships, totaling US$7 million, to women from 64 countries. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship is awarded annually to women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering. These fields include planetary science. The Fellowship of US$10,000, awarded to 35 Fellows around the globe each year, may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields. Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering are eligible. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship. Applications for the 2011 Fellowships must be received or post-marked by 15 November 2010 to be considered. http://www.zonta.org/WhatWeDo/InternationalPrograms /AmeliaEarhartFellowship.aspx 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 JOB OPPORTUNITY The Space Science Office of the Marshall Space Flight Center announces a civil service position in planetary science. The successful candidate will fill a project scientist position in the Lunar Mapping and Modeling Project, and maintain a strong independent scientific research program as part of the MSFC Planetary Science group: http://planetary.msfc.nasa.gov/ If you have any questions about the position, please contact Barbara Cohen (Barbara.A.Cohen@nasa.gov). Candidates must apply by August 24th through USAJobs.com, Job Announcement Number MS10D0108. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS February 18-22, 2011 IAG/AIG Regional Conference on Geomorphology http://www.geomorph.org/main.html Addis Ababa, Ethiopia October 9-12, 2011 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2011/ Minneapolis, MN [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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