PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Number 54 (December 16, 2012) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Melissa Lane Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. EDITORIAL: NASA Planetary R&A Program Selection Rates Plummet 2. MEPAG Meeting Scheduled for February 26-27, 2013 in Arlington, VA 3. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 4. Comets as Tracers of Solar System Formation and Evolution 5. Venus Upper Atmosphere Science and Technology Interchange Meeting 6. Bird's-eye View of Valles Marineris by ESA Mars Express 7. Planetary Responses to SALSO RFU Needed! 8. 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: NASA PLANETARY R&A PROGRAM SELECTION RATES PLUMMET Mark V. Sykes Planetary Science Institute New awards for planetary R&A programs are recording success rates of 10-12%. From selection letter language, there is no commitment to later funding that will significantly increase these success rates. This is a policy decision by Planetary Division management. Given the recent commitment to a $1.5B MSL2 launching in 2020 (with no science objective yet defined - and a mission not called for in the recent decadal survey), it is alarming there is no commitment to funding stability for these research programs, much less the modest growth called for by the decadal survey. Per numerous NRC reports over the years, R&A programs are the foundation on which the strategic goals of the US solar system exploration program are pursued, missions are defined, and return on the tax-payer investment in those missions are gained. We face the prospect of losing science capability, particularly among the next generation of planetary scientists. This loss is not reversible on short timescales. Tell me how this will impact you (sykes@psi.edu). I will collect and publish your responses (minus personal identification). This can significantly impact policymakers. Contact your Congressional delegation at: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ 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 NEW MEPAG MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 26-27, 2013 IN ARLINGTON, VA The 27th meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) is scheduled for February 26-27, 2013, at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge in Arlington, VA. Key discussion topics will include: -Mars program status, budget, and current missions -2020 Mars Rover Science Definition Team plans and status -Current interactions with the Human Exploration organization (HEOMD) -Planning for future MEPAG work If you have questions, contact: Charles Budney (Charles.J.Budney@jpl.nasa.gov) 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 COMETS AS TRACERS OF SOLAR SYSTEM FORMATION AND EVOLUTION July 9-11, 2013, Toulouse, France Abstract submission deadline: March 31, 2013 On-line registration deadline: April 30, 2013 Maximum number of participants: 60 A workshop on the role of comets in understanding the formation and evolution of the Solar System will be held in Toulouse, France 9-11 July, 2013. The workshop will cover topics ranging from the dynamical and chemical evolution of the solar nebula during formation, to the techniques for measuring the composition of comets. We will discuss the role that Rosetta measurements will play in understanding the origin of Solar System bodies, and what future missions to comets are being planned. Abstract submissions for posters and for talks are encouraged, though the number of talks available is limited in order to keep the meeting to three days. There will be a special issue of Planetary and Space Science devoted to the works presented at this meeting. For more information see: http://icw.space.swri.edu/index.htm 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 VENUS UPPER ATMOSPHERE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTERCHANGE MEETING A meeting is planned for January 24th, 2013 to discuss Venus upper atmosphere investigations. The meeting main purposes are: 1. Foster a science discussion on goals, objectives, priorities, and significance of the Venus upper atmosphere and how Venus upper atmosphere science would contribute to overall exploration of Venus and how it may contribute to comparative science 2. Discuss the desired measurements and measurement requirements to achieve potential Venus upper atmosphere science 3. Discuss spacecraft concepts and technologies that could reach the Venus UA and collect and return the desired data The meeting will be held at the Ohio Aerospace Institute at NASA Glenn in Cleveland, Ohio. Attendance at the meeting is free but registration is strongly encouraged. Registration and additional information are available at: http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SSPO/SP/VenusUpper/workshop.html A tour of the nearly completed NASA Glenn Extreme Environment Rig (GEER) will be made available for those arriving the afternoon of the 23rd. When complete, the GEER will be able to accurately simulate the environments in the Venus atmosphere and on its surface. Questions may be forwarded to daniel.m.vento@nasa.gov 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 BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF VALLES MARINERIS BY ESA MARS EXPRESS Seen here in new light and online for the first time, this bird's-eye view of Valles Marineris was created from data captured during 20 individual orbits of ESA’s Mars Express. It is presented in near-true colour and with four times vertical exaggeration. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/The_Solar_System_s_ grandest_canyon 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 RESPONSES TO SALSO RFI NEEDED! The due date (7 January) for responses to the SALSO call (science.nasa.gov/salso/) is rapidly approaching. NASA is seeking input for what to do with a mirror system from NRO. Let's not be left out ... Wouldn't it be great if this system could be used for planetary observations? We can make that happen with efforts from the community to build a strong case for doing so. Please consider submitting an abstract (for a planetary science topic, instrument concept or mission concept). We are coordinating efforts for a strong response from the planetary science community. Please check out the wiki: http://www.giardiacorp.com/pstwiki and add information about your abstract, or contact those who have already posted to join their effort. Mike Wong (mikewong@astro.berkeley.edu) Amanda Hendrix (arh@psi.edu) 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 MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html January 6-10, 2013 221st Meeting of the American Astronomical Society http://aas.org/meetings/aas221 Long Beach, CA January 24, 2013 Venus Upper Atmosphere Science and Technology Interchange Meeting http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SSPO/SP/VenusUpper/workshop.html Cleveland, OH June 2-6, 2013 222nd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society http://aas.org/meetings/aas222 Indianapolis, IN June 18-21, 2013 From Exoplanets to Distant Galaxies: SPICA's New Window on the Cool Universe http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/SPICA/spica2013/ Kanagawa, Japan July 9-11, 2013 Comets as Tracers of Solar System Formation and Evolution http://icw.space.swri.edu/index.htm Toulouse, France [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which you think 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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