PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Number 20 (May 6, 2012) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Melissa Lane Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Postdoctoral Researcher: Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) Microprobe Analysis 2. [NASA] Coordination with ESA's 2012 Call for a Small Mission of Opportunity in ESA's Science Program for a Launch in 2017 3. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 4. Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter - May 2012 5. Call for Imaging Requests for Candidate Landing Sites for Future Mars Missions 6. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 7. [NASA] PDS Releases Rosetta Mission Data: Asteroid Lutetia Flyby and More 8. Correction: 2012 Next Generation Lunar Scientists and Engineers Workshop 9. 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 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER: SECONDARY ION MASS SPECTROMETRY (SIMS) MICROPROBE ANALYSIS The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), part of the Universities Space Research Association, invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in the area of SIMS isotopic and elemental analysis of Martian meteorites. The successful candidate will work with an international team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. Candidate should be self-motivated, and must have a Ph.D. in geochemistry, cosmochemistry, or related. Strong background in ion microprobe analysis essential. Experience in analysis/interpretation of Pb isotopes is advantageous. Experience with a Cameca 1270/80 is also advantageous. Knowledge of Martian geochemistry and petrology is beneficial, but not essential. Travel is required. Candidates should also present an independent research plan that complements the Martian meteorite study. Position is for one year, with possible extension to a second year. Applicants should send a letter of interest, a curriculum vita with list of publications, a brief statement of research interests, and three references to resume@lpi.usra.edu. Further details, contact: Justin Simon (justin.i.simon@nasa.gov) or John Jones (john.h.jones@nasa.gov) Information on research and facilities at the LPI can be found at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu Information on JSC facilities can be found at: http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/ares/index.cfm The Universities Space Research Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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] COORDINATION WITH ESA'S 2012 CALL FOR A SMALL MISSION OF OPPORTUNITY IN ESA'S SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR A LAUNCH IN 2017 - Request due to NASA by May 15 - NASA response to PI by June 1 - Proposal due to ESA by June 15 - Submission of full proposal and cover letter to NASA by June 22 NASA is prepared to provide proposing U.S. investigators with a letter of acknowledgement for proposals in alignment with established NASA strategic science objectives. Proposers desiring such a letter must submit to NASA a brief description of (1) the mission concept contemplated, (2) the relevance of its science objectives to established NASA science objectives, and (3) contemplated U.S. involvement in the mission to be proposed. This description may not exceed 1000 words (~two single-spaced pages, 12-point type) and must be submitted by email no later than May 15, 2012, to colleen.hartman@nasa.gov. Requests for letters of acknowledgement should come from the lead U.S. collaborator on the proposed mission. NASA will conduct an internal review of the proposed mission's relevancy to NASA science objectives and, for those submissions in good alignment with these objectives, will provide a letter of acknowledgement in time for submission to ESA with the proposal. ESA Announcement website: http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=50119 Questions, contact: Dr. Colleen N. Hartman (202) 358-2165 colleen.hartman@nasa.gov [Edited 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 May 'Image of the Month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/May12Image.html This Month's topic is on "Surface dissolution on Titan and Earth: Ontario Lacus and the Etosha Pan (Namibia)". Image and caption contributed by Thomas Cornet, Olivier Bourgeois, S. Le Mouelic et al., Laboratoire de Planetologie et Geodynamique de Nantes, UMR 6112, CNRS, Nantes, France. 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 MARS EXPLORATION SCIENCE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - MAY 2012 Dear Members of the Mars Community, On behalf of Dave Des Marais, the MEPAG Chair, Dave Beaty, Rich Zurek, and Charles Budney of the Mars Program Science Office, the May 2012 edition of the Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter can be found on the web at: http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov Regards, Joyce Pulliam 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 CALL FOR IMAGING REQUESTS FOR CANDIDATE LANDING SITES FOR FUTURE MARS MISSIONS The Mars Exploration Program Offices at NASA Headquarters and the JPL invite submission of observation requests for new candidate landing sites for possible future rover missions to conduct in-situ science investigations and cache samples for possible return to Earth and subsequent analysis. Candidate sites are also to be provided to the Mars Odyssey and Mars Express teams to conduct additional imaging investigations. Sites proposed to previous calls should not be re-proposed. Proposed observation requests of landing sites requires submission of a short abstract. A template is available at: http://marsnext.jpl.nasa.gov/ Additional details can be found at: http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/meeting/jun-11/index.html Requests for imaging of candidate landing sites can be submitted through July 15, 2012 via e-mail to John Grant (grantj@si.edu), Matt Golombek (mgolombek@jpl.nasa.gov), and Nicolas Mangold (Nicolas.Mangold@univ-nantes.fr) It is anticipated that a landing site workshop will be held during early 2013 to enable discussion of new candidate sites. It is likely that sites deemed of the highest merit will be selected for additional imaging. Please note that this data call is an unfunded effort. [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 NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers scientists and engineers unique opportunities to conduct research at NASA Centers. Each NPP fellowship opportunity is designed to advance NASA research in a specific project related to space science, earth science, aeronautics, exploration systems, lunar science, astrobiology, or astrophysics. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. U. S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar may apply. Stipends start at $50,000 per year, with supplements for high cost- of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $8,000 per year is provided for professional travel. Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions may be submitted by e-mail to nasapostdoc@orau.org 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 [NASA] PDS RELEASES ROSETTA MISSION DATA: ASTEROID LUTETIA FLYBY AND MORE The NASA Planetary Data System is pleased to announce release of the Rosetta mission data acquired during the asteroid 21 Lutetia flyby. We are also releasing some data taken at earlier mission stages, including some data from the asteroid Steins flyby. Note, that only some of the datasets are certified for ROSES proposals. The data can be accessed through the PDS Small Bodies Node. To see and download the data as well as mission and instrument information, go to: http://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/data_sb/missions/rosetta 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 CORRECTION: 2012 NEXT GENERATION LUNAR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WORKSHOP The 3rd annual Next Generation Lunar Scientists & Engineers (NGLSE) Workshop will be held on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), preceding the NASA Lunar Science Forum. This one-day workshop for graduate students, postdocs, and early career professionals will focus on effective career strategies for navigating today's job market. The purpose of this group is to engage and develop the next generation of lunar scientists and engineers, and to enable their successful involvement in current planning for the exploration of the Moon. Please indicate your interest in attending at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6G53ZQG Email any questions to: Lora.V.Bleacher@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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html September 18-21, 2012 Future Science with Metre-Class Telescopes http://futurescience.aob.rs/ Belgrade, Serbia October 10-13, 2012 United Nations/Japan Nano-Satellite Symposium http://www.nanosat.jp/ Nagoya, Japan March 4-8, 2013 Ganymede Lander: Scientific Goals and Experiments http://glcw2013.cosmos.ru/ Moscow, Russia [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.php, or * send a request to pen_editor at psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor at psi.edu * * 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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