PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 5, Number 20 (May 1, 2011) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Melissa Lane, Susan Benecchi Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. IPEWG-2011 Call for Abstracts 2. EPSC-DPS Special Session - Active Surface Processes on Mars 3. EPSC-DPS Special Session - Plasma at Venus and Mars 4. New Venus Colloquium Series 5. [NASA] Planetary Instrument Definition and Development (PIDDP) and Astrobiology Science and Technology for Instrument Development (ASTID) 6. 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 IPEWG-2011 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Dear Colleagues: We are pleased to announce that from today, the poster abstract submission for the 2011 International Primitive Body Exploration Working Group Meeting is available at the meeting website: http://ipewg.caltech.edu Dates : August 22-24, 2011 Venue: Pasadena, CA Abstracts will be accepted until August 1st. Further information about the meeting, agenda details and abstract submission are all available at the meeting website. The discussions held at this meeting are expected to open new international collaboration opportunities for primitive body space exploration. We hope you will attend and participate in this important program. Sincerely, on behalf of the organizing committee, Keith Grogan IPEWG 2011 LOC Chair keith.grogan@jpl.nasa.gov 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 EPSC-DPS SPECIAL SESSION - ACTIVE SURFACE PROCESSES ON MARS Convener: AS McEwen Co-Conveners: N. Thomas, C. Hansen, M. Masse http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2011/session/8297 New results from high-resolution imaging has shown a range of active surface processes on Mars: gully incision and deposition at dozens of locations, especially in dunes; more than 200 new impact events, some exposing shallow ice; avalanches off the edges of the north polar ice cap; migration of aeolian ripples and shifting sand deposits; slope streaks; dust devils; rock falls; and a bizarre suite of activities associated with seasonal and perennial CO2. Of special interest are implications for environmental change with orbital variations (i.e., what can happen today vs. what required different conditions). Also of special interest is the question of whether liquid water or brines are involved in any of these current processes. Abstracts are due 31 May 2011. 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 EPSC-DPS SPECIAL SESSION - PLASMA AT VENUS AND MARS Magnetospheres and Space Physics Session #1 Plasma Processes at Venus and Mars: Observations and Modeling The plasma environments of Mars and Venus are determined by the interaction of the solar wind and radiation with their atmospheres. Beside electron impacts and photoionization, charge exchange processes have important specific consequences like the emission of X-rays and the production of Energetic Neutral Atoms which allow remote diagnostics of plasma processes. The aim of this session is to offer an opportunity to compare in situ and remote observations to model predictions of plasma processes in the Venusian and Martian environments. These two planets targeted by numerous missions could serve as test benches for future diagnostics of plasma processes occurring near remote planets. Conveners: G. Chanteur, T. Cravens, D. Brain, U. Mostl For more information please see the conference web site: http://meetings.copernicus.org/epsc-dps2011/home.html before the May 31 abstract deadline. 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 VENUS COLLOQUIUM SERIES Would your institution like a visit and colloquium presentation from an expert in Venus science, at no expense to you? Would you like travel support to share your Venus research? Presenters and host institutions are sought for the new Venus Colloquium Series, a program matching planetary scientists with university campuses and research institutions. Participation is open to two- and four-year undergraduate colleges and research institutions throughout the United States. Host institutions commit to making the necessary local arrangements. Presenters are encouraged to address the needs of the next generation of scientists (graduate students, interns, and undergraduates) and give an additional presentation that is free and open to the general public. Other interactions that increase awareness of terrestrial planet processes may also be part of the visit. These could be guest teaching a class, interacting informally with students and faculty, or other activities. The Venus Colloquium Series will cover the presenter's travel expenses. There will be no honorarium for the speaker. A current list of presenters and their prospective talks and applications for both presenter and institutions can also be found at: http://vcs.jpl.nasa.gov [Text edited 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 [NASA] PLANETARY INSTRUMENT DEFINITION AND DEVELOPMENT (PIDDP) AND ASTROBIOLOGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT (ASTID) The Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP) supports the advancement of spacecraft-based instrument technology that shows promise for use in scientific investigations on future planetary missions. The goal of the program is not to develop flight-qualified hardware, but rather to define and develop scientific instruments or components of such instruments to the point where the instruments may be proposed in response to future announcements of flight opportunity without additional extensive technology development. Results of PIDDP have contributed to the development of flight hardware flown on, or selected for, many of NASA's planetary missions. The proposed instrument technology must address specific scientific objectives of likely future science missions. Please note that proposals submitted to Astrobiology Science and Technology for Instrument Development and PIDDP will be reviewed together and thus, if identical proposals are submitted to both programs, only one will be reviewed. The due date for PIDDP Notices of Intent remains unchanged at July 15, 2011, but the due date for proposals has been changed to August 26, 2011. Go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH11ZDA001N". Questions concerning PIDDP proposals may be addressed to: Janice Buckner 202-358-0183 HQ-PIDD@mail.nasa.gov [Text edited 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html October 11-12, 2011 XVI National Conference of Astronomers of Serbia http://nkas.aob.rs/ Belgrade, Serbia October 16-20, 2011 International Conference on Biosphere Origin and Evolution III http://conf.nsc.ru/en/page/BOE-2011;jsessionid= 3D58C48FD44FA3872F31143AD920F8CC Rithymno, Greece November 7-9, 2011 Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG 2011) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/leag2011/ Houston, Texas March 5-8, 2012 Observing Planetary Systems II http://www.sc.eso.org/~cdumas/OPSII.html Santiago, Chile September 3-7, 2012 Planet Formation and Evolution 2012 http://www.usm.uni-muenchen.de/people/preibisch/planets2012/index.html Munich, Germany [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. 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