PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Number 34 (August 5, 2012) 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. EDITORIAL 2. [NASA] Maturation of Instruments for Solar System Exploration (MatISSE) Program 3. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 4. Permanent Faculty Position in Astronomy/Astrophysics 5. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 6. AGU Fall 2012 Special Session P003. Airless Body Petrology Through Samples and Remote Sensing: Diverse Approaches to Common Problems 7. AGU Fall 2012 Special Session P011. Labotarory Investigations Supporting Analysis of Datasets from Mars, the Moon, and Other Planetary Bodies 8. AGU Fall 2012 Special Session P034. What Lurks in the Martian Rocks and Soil? Investigations of Sulfates, Phosphates, and Perchlorates 9. GSA Topical Session T158. Impact Cratering in the Solar System: Processes and Products 10. GSA Topical Sessions 11. Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter - August 2012 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 EDITORIAL MSL lands this evening, but our community will not be "forever changed." I disagree with Jim Green, NASA Planetary Science Division Director. Everything we undertake in solar system exploration is filled with risk. We work to reduce that risk, but it is never zero. MSL landing successfully will be a great engineering feat. It commences an ambitious investigation of an area that should yield rich, detailed information about Mars' past and its potential for having hosted life in that past. Failure will not put our nation's planetary science program "at stake". Overreaction can. We are weakened by bad policy recommendations and decisions of the past ten years, crippling the former workhorse Discovery program and canceling the Mars Scout program, while backroom deals are pursued to allocate yet more resources to large, uncompeted projects. The greatest challenge facing U.S. solar system exploration is making the transition from an adolescent focus on firsts to rebuilding our foundational programs and embracing science as "the endless frontier." To quote Vannevar Bush, it "is one essential key to our security as a nation, to our better health, to more jobs, to a higher standard of living, and to our cultural progress." Mark V. Sykes 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] MATURATION OF INSTRUMENTS FOR SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION (MATISSE) PROGRAM The MatISSE Program supports the advanced development of spacecraft-based instruments that show promise for use in future planetary missions. The goal of the program is to develop and demonstrate planetary and astrobiology science instruments to the point where they may be proposed in response to future announcements of flight opportunity without additional extensive technology development (approximately TRL 6). The proposed instrument must address specific scientific objectives of likely future planetary science missions. The name of this program was formerly Astrobiology Science and Technology for Instrument Development (ASTID). Notices of intent are requested by August 31, 2012, and proposals are due by October 31, 2012. Go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ On a related note, we regret to inform potential proposers that Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations (PICASSO) and Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets (ASTEP) will not be solicited this year. However, we anticipate that they will be solicited in ROSES 2013 and draft text for PICASSO is presented in ROSES 2012. Questions concerning either PICASSO or MatISSE, may be addressed to: Janice L. Buckner 202-358-0183 janice.l.buckner@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 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 $53,500 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 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 PERMANENT FACULTY POSITION IN ASTRONOMY/ASTROPHYSICS The Department of Physics and Space Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology invites applications for a permanent faculty position that will begin in January 2013 (preferred) or August 2013. This position may be at any rank, assistant through full professor. Preference will be given to candidates with observational or theoretical expertise in stellar, exoplanet and/or planetary astronomy/astrophysics. The successful candidate will have guaranteed access to the Ortega telescope in Florida and the SARA facilities at Kitt Peak in Arizona and Cerro Tololo in Chile. Candidates with experience in astronomical instrumentation are particularly encouraged. Information about the Department and current research activity in astronomy/astrophysics can be found at: http://cos.fit.edu/pss/ and http://astro.fit.edu respectively. To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, statement of research and teaching experience and interests, and the names of at least three references to searchpss@fit.edu or via regular mail to Faculty Search Committee Dept. of Physics and Space Sciences Florida Institute of Technology 150 W. University Blvd. Melbourne FL 32901 USA The review of applications will begin on August 1st, however applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Florida Tech is an equal opportunity employer. [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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The August 'Image of the Month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/Aug12Image.html This Month's topic is on "Lava temperatures determine flow composition in Earth and Io". Images and caption contributed by Robert Wright, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA, and Mary C. Bourke, Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Az, 85719, 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 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 AGU FALL 2012 SPECIAL SESSION P003. AIRLESS BODY PETROLOGY THROUGH SAMPLES AND REMOTE SENSING: DIVERSE APPROACHES TO COMMON PROBLEMS We are pleased to announce the title special session at the 2012 AGU Meeting in San Francisco, CA, December 3-7, 2012. This interdisciplinary session is sponsored by the Planetary Sciences section and co-sponsored by the Volcanology-Geochemistry-Petrology (VGP) section. It emphasizes both remote sensing and sample-based investigations of airless body petrology. Numerous recent and current missions are providing planetary scientists with remote sensing data of unprecedented quality and volume. Concurrently, improvements in laboratory instrumentation are enabling new fundamental discoveries from analysis of returned samples and meteorites. Communication between both fields is crucial for addressing broad planetary science questions and maximizing the science return of current and future planetary exploration. This session will further research in planetary petrology by encouraging such synergistic research through contributions from remote sensing and sample-based analyses. Submissions are welcomed for studies of any airless body. Please consider submitting an abstract for this session. Please visit: http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2012/ Submission deadline is August 8, 2012. Invited Speakers: Hap McSween, Jeff Taylor, Juliane Gross, Tim McCoy Conveners: Peter Isaacson, Rachel Klima, Rhiannon Mayne We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco. [Edited for length] 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 AGU FALL 2012 SPECIAL SESSION P011. LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS SUPPORTING ANALYSIS OF DATASETS FROM MARS, THE MOON, AND OTHER PLANETARY BODIES This session is co-sponsored by MSA. Planetary missions over the past decade have gathered a wealth of data, including spectral (e.g., TES, OMEGA, CRISM, M3), thermophysical (e.g., Diviner, THEMIS), and geochemical/mineralogical (e.g., GRS, APXS, MB, CheMin, ChemCam, SAM). Rigorous laboratory investigations are required for instrument calibration and refinement of data interpretation. This session will focus on measurements/experiments that relate to interpretation of remote sensing or in situ data from planetary bodies. Studies that utilize multiple methods/datasets, analog materials, and advance quantitative compositional analyses of orbital data or the interpretation of MSL/MER instrument data are especially encouraged. Abstract deadline: August 8th http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2012/session-search/single/laboratory -investigations-supporting-analysis-of-datasets-from-mars-the-moon -and-other-planetary-bodies-cosponsored-by-msa/ Conveners: Christopher S. Edwards (Arizona State University/California Institute of Technology) Bethany L. Ehlmann (California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Timothy D. Glotch (Stony Brook University) 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 AGU FALL 2012 SPECIAL SESSION P034. WHAT LURKS IN THE MARTIAN ROCKS AND SOIL? INVESTIGATIONS OF SULFATES, PHOSPHATES, AND PERCHLORATES Sulfates, phosphates, and perchlorates have been found on Mars from orbit and/or from surface missions. Identification of these minerals (suites) can enable constraints on the Martian geochemical environments. This session will generate a discussion regarding the conditions for the formation of these minerals on Mars, and methods for identifying their geological environments and related fluid chemistry. Abstracts describing discoveries of sulfates, phosphates, or perchlorates from surface missions and orbital spacecraft data, and those covering laboratory analyses and thermodynamic modeling relating to the hydration state of these minerals and their stability on Mars are welcome. Abstract deadline: August 8, 2012, 23:59ET/3:59+1 GMT For abstract submission policies see: http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2012/scientific-program/abstract-submission- policies/ Invited speakers include: Richard Quinn Mariam Sowe Penny King Conveners: Melissa Lane (Planetary Science Institute) Janice Bishop (SETI Institute/NASA Ames Research Center) Darby Dyar (Mount Holyoke College) ***SPECIAL NOTE: Papers from this session (and other future relevant submissions) will be considered for publication as a Special Section on Martian soils in the journal, American Mineralogist. 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 GSA TOPICAL SESSION T158. IMPACT CRATERING IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM: PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS The impact cratering community is invited to submit an abstract to the following session at the 2012 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (November 4-7, 2012, Charlotte, NC): Topical Session T158. Impact Cratering in the Solar System: Processes and Products Conveners: Christian Koeberl (Univ. Vienna/NHM, Austria), Jeffrey Plescia (APL-Johns Hopkins Univ. USA) This session focuses on the nature of solar system impacts. Contributions regarding impact morphology, shock processes and materials, modeling, and impactor evolution are solicited. Comparisons of cratering among planets, small bodies, and satellites are encouraged. To submit an abstract to this session: http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012AM/top/papers/index.cgi?sessionid=30955 Deadline for abstracts submittal is Tuesday, 14 August 2012. General meeting information: http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2012/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 GSA TOPICAL SESSIONS A reminder of the GSA Annual Meeting abstract submission deadline coming up on Tuesday 14 August (midnight PDT). Please consider submitting an abstract for one of the following proposed sessions: http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2012/sessions/topical.asp?CatID =Planetary+Geology&submit=Go T147. Tectonics of Icy Bodies and Their Analogs T148. Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Petrology of Mars T149. Shock Processes and Shock Attenuation Associated with Hypervelocity Impact Events T150. The Geology of Asteroid 4 Vesta as Seen by Dawn: Results from One Year in Orbit T151. Linking Earth-Observing Data and Planetary Mission Data in the Teaching and Presentation of Basic Geoscience to K-12 Students, Teachers, and the General Public T152. New Moon Rising: The Latest Geologic Results from the Lunar Surface T153. The Moon, Inside and Out: New Results in Lunar Geophysics, Structure, and Interior T154. Observation and Analysis of Impact Cratering and Its Effects: The G.K. Gilbert Award Session T155. The Heart of an Explorer: A Tribute to Ronald Greeley T156. Geologic Analog Studies of the Rocky Planets: Understanding Planetary Geologic Evolution and Surface Processes T157. Gridview Image Manipulation for LOLA and MOLA Topographical Data (Posters) T158. Impact Cratering in the Solar System: Processes and Products Simon Kattenhorn 2012 PGD Chair / University of Idaho 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 MARS EXPLORATION SCIENCE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2012 The latest newsletter can be found on the web at: http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov 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 Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html October 3-4, 2012 26th Meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) http://mepag.nasa.gov/ Monrovia, CA November 4-7, 2012 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2012/ Charlotte, NC December 2, 2012 MAVEN Science Community Workshop http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven San Francisco, CA February 1-28, 2013 Morocco 2013 Mars Analog Field Simulation http://www.oewf.org/cms/mars2013.phtml Erfoud, Morocco February 26-27, 2013 27th Meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) http://mepag.nasa.gov/ Washington, DC April 8-12, 2013 Transformational Science with ALMA: From Dust to Rocks to Planets Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems http://www.cv.nrao.edu/rocks/index.html Waikoloa, HI May 6-8, 2013 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M) http://www.exploremars.org Washington, DC October 27-30, 2013 2013 GSA Annual Meeting & Exposition http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2013/ Denver, CO [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, 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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