PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 4, Number 48 (November 7, 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. [NASA] New Mars Civil Service Position at Headquarters 2. [NASA] Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program 3. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 4. New-Horizons Workshop on Icy Surface Processes 5. Nominations Invited for 2011 ASP Educational Awards 6. [NASA] Planetary Protection Policies and Practices 7. Planetary Decadal Report Draft Completed 8. Planetary Decadal Survey's Panels Dissolved 9. Planetary Decadal Survey Mission and Technology Study Reports Now Available 10. Deadline Extended to November 30, 2010 for Submitting Papers to the Icarus Special Issue "Advances in Venus Science" 11. [NASA] Planetary Data System: Participation 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 [NASA] NEW MARS CIVIL SERVICE POSITION AT HEADQUARTERS From: James L. Green, Director Planetary Science Division Subject: Mars Program Scientist Civil Servant position now available The Planetary Science Division is now advertizing for a Mars Program Scientist who will be responsible for overseeing the science content and execution of assigned Mars Exploration Program missions and activities. To find a detailed description of this position and additional information on qualifications and application procedures, please click on the USAjobs link below: http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?opmcontrol=2088798 The position opened November 5, 2010 and will close on November 26, 2010. U.S. citizenship is required. All applications must be received no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement, and NASA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider. The vitality of our Planetary Science program begins with the best people working at NASA Headquarters, so please take a moment to think about the future of the field and your role in making great things happen for the science community. I encourage you to apply for this fabulous opportunity. 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] EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP (NESSF) PROGRAM NASA announces a call for graduate fellowship proposals to the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program for the 2011-2012 academic year. This call for fellowship proposals solicits applications from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing Master of Science or Doctoral degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines. Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be made in the form of training grants to the respective universities. The deadline for NEW applications is February 1, 2011, and the deadline for RENEWAL applications is March 15, 2011. The NESSF call for proposals and submission instructions are located at the NESSF 11 solicitation index page at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Click on "Solicitations," then click on "Open Solicitations," then select the "NESSF 11" announcement. All proposals must be submitted in electronic format only through the NASA NSPIRES system in which the advisor, the student, and the university must all be registered. For further information contact Ming-Ying Wei Program Administrator for NESSF Earth Science Research 202-358-0771 mwei@nasa.gov or Dolores Holland Program Administrator for NESSF Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research, and Astrophysics Research 202-358-0734 hq-nessf-Space@nasa.gov [Editor Note: Reduced for length] 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 November 'image of the month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/Nov10Image.html This Month's topic is on "Pseudocraters on Earth and Mars" Images and caption contributed by Jim Zimbelman, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA 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 NEW-HORIZONS WORKSHOP ON ICY SURFACE PROCESSES Date/Location: August 30 - 31, 2011, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona. The principal objective of this workshop is to review the state of knowledge and present new ideas pertaining to the geological and geochemical processes that operate on the surfaces of icy worlds, with the goal of aiding our understanding of the Pluto system during the first reconnaissance in 2015 by NASA's New Horizons mission. In recognition of the Lowell Observatory's key role in the discovery of the Pluto System, Lowell is hosting the workshop on the old Observatory grounds. Co-sponsored by SwRI and NASA ARC. The workshop will focus on Solar System solid body icy surfaces (anywhere in the Solar System) and the physical and geological processes that shape icy landforms and mobilize surface materials. Subjects covered include possible analogs for surfaces of Pluto system, compositional considerations, the physical properties of surface materials, landscape and volatile origin and evolution, the implications for other KBOs, and the plans and expected datasets resulting from Pluto system investigations by the NH's mission. There will be invited and contributed talks, details to follow. Participation is open to anyone, limited to ~75 researchers. POC: Carrie Chavez (carrie.l.chavez@nasa.gov) 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 NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR 2011 ASP EDUCATIONAL AWARDS The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is now accepting nominations for the Society's 2011 awards honoring accomplishments in astronomy education and public outreach. Recipients receive a cash award and engraved plaque, as well as travel and lodging to accept the award at the Society's 2011 Meeting, to be held in Baltimore, Maryland July 30 - Aug. 3. * The Richard Emmons Award celebrates a life-time of outstanding achievement in the teaching of college-level introductory astronomy for non-science majors. * The Klumpke-Roberts Award recognizes those who have made major contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy. * The Thomas J. Brennan Award is given for excellence in the teaching of astronomy at the high school level in North America. * The Las Cumbres Amateur Outreach Award honors outstanding educational outreach by an amateur astronomer to K-12 students and the public. Submission guidelines, and lists of past recipients can be found at: http://www.astrosociety.org/membership/awards/awards.html The deadline for nominations is December 15, 2010. You do not need to be a member of the Society to make or second a nomination. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Albert Silva 415.337.1100 x100 asilva@astrosociety.org [Editor Note: Reduced for 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 [NASA] Planetary Protection Policies and Practices NASA's Planetary Protection Office has developed a course on planetary protection policies and practices to familiarize current and future practitioners with NASA and COSPAR planetary protection programs. It provides a comprehensive review of all applicable policies, practices and procedures necessary to implement a successful planetary protection program, emphasizing integration of managerial, administrative, and laboratory activities. The course is supported by the NASA Planetary Protection Office and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. This course is designed for managers, engineers, designers, lab technicians and others interested in learning about the theory behind and application of planetary protection principles. Participants learn how the work of personnel with diverse skills and responsibilities is coordinated to implement successful planetary protection programs. The course also provides hands-on training in microbial sampling and data management. It is taught by experts in the field with years of practical experience in all aspects of planetary protection. Course: Planetary Protection: Policies and Practices Location: Space Life Sciences Laboratory, KSC Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 Course Dates: December 7-9, 2010 Registration Deadline: Nov. 19, 2010 Limit: 20 students For more information about this course, or to register for an upcoming course, contact: Amy Bake tasalb@msn.com 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 DECADAL REPORT DRAFT COMPLETED A complete draft of the planetary science decadal survey report was assembled in late-September/early-October and sent to 18 reviewers for comment on October 15. Reviewer comments are due by mid-November. The schedule for revising and completing the report is designed to enable delivery to NASA and NSF in mid- to late-February of next year. Public release is currently scheduled to take place at the 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 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 PLANETARY DECADAL SURVEY'S PANELS DISSOLVED The five topical panels supporting the planetary science decadal survey's steering group were dissolved on 31 October. The panels - Inner Planets, Mars, Giant Planets, Satellites of the Giant Planets and Primitive Bodies - played a vital role in the drafting of the decadal survey and in identifying priority mission activities. Survey chair Steve Squyres wrote: "Our philosophy from the outset was that the panels were where the real expertise lay, so we would delegate as much decision-making authority to the panels as possible. All five panels stepped up to this challenge, did what needed to be done, and made the decisions that had to be made. What that meant was that by the time things got to the steering group, a huge fraction of the really hard work had already been accomplished. It made our job easy. I'm incredibly proud of the report that we have produced, and very excited about the program of planetary exploration we are going to recommend. The reason that this program is so good, more than anything else, is the superb work done by the panels. The entire community of planetary scientists in this country is in your debt." [Editor Note: Reduced for length] 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 PLANETARY DECADAL SURVEY MISSION AND TECHNOLOGY STUDY REPORTS NOW AVAILABLE The mission and technology study reports commissioned in support of the planetary science decadal survey are now available at http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/SSB_059331 Each of these studies was identified by one or more of the decadal survey's panels and was undertaken at a major design center, including the Applied Physics Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center and Glenn Research Center. 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 DEADLINE EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 30, 2010 FOR SUBMITTING PAPERS TO THE ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE "ADVANCES IN VENUS SCIENCE" The Elsevier Editorial System URL for submitting papers to the Icarus Special Issue, "Advances in Venus science" will remain open beyond the previously announced deadline. Papers emanating from the ESA workshop in Venus in Aussois, France held during 20-26 June 2010 and the VEXAG Workshop on Venus Atmosphere in Madison during 30 August - 2 September 2010 are welcome, along with any other paper presenting new Venus science results". Nominal submission deadline has been extended to 30 November 2010. Guest Editors for this issue are P. Drossart, S. Smrekar and S.S. Limaye. The URL for submission is: http://ees.elsevier.com/icarus/default.asp 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [NASA] PLANETARY DATA SYSTEM: PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY We'd like to hear your thoughts and opinions about NASA's Planetary Data System (PDS). NASA Headquarters is interested in making the PDS more useful to its community. Hence, this brief, 10 question survey is designed to assess the current state of PDS' usability. This survey should take 10 minutes of your time. You can access it via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/257u4lg The survey will be open through end of day Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. We thank you in advance for your participation! The User-Centered Technology (UCT) team, NASA Ames Research Center 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 No new meetings. [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which your colleagues should be aware, 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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. 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