PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 17 (April 13, 2013) 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 - Who is Minding Planetary Research? 2. NASA Lunar Science Forum 2013 (LSF2013): Second Announcement 3. [NASA] PDS Releases 3 New Data Sets: Deep Impact at Comet Hartley 2 4. [NASA] Biosignatures Investigator 5. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 6. Abstract Deadline Approaching for NLSI Workshop Without Walls: Lunar Volatiles 7. [NASA] Intent to Release Solicitation on Instrument Technology Development in Support of the Europa Clipper Mission Concept 8. [NASA] Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations 9. Planetary Atmospheres Researcher (GSFC/CRESST/University of Maryland) 10. Dynamic Mars from Long-Term Observations 11. The Pluto System on the Eve of Exploration by New Horizons: Perspectives and Predictions - Abstracts Due Monday 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 - WHO IS MINDING PLANETARY RESEARCH? On April 4, NASA Planetary Science Division Director Jim Green addressed the Planetary Science Subcommittee about sequestration and rescission. I noted two statements repeatedly made: he did not see planetary research programs maintaining their budgets under rescission, and $75M added by Congress for Europa in FY13 is "the law!" House Appropriations staff say rescissions are to be applied "across the board," constrained by NASA Administrative Provisions in the FY13 budget bill. A simple calculation: The annual PSD budget for the first half of FY13 was $1.19B. Congress increased this to $1.415B for the full year. To get back below $1.19B, possibly impacting research, requires rescission >35%! This does not seem likely. $75M represents ~50% of the total budget for annually competed planetary research programs in ROSES. Some core planetary research programs still suffer from record low selection rates (primarily due to unexplained budget cuts, not proposal pressure) and long delays in awards. The Administration and both houses of Congress openly support the planetary research programs, as demonstrated by proposed and appropriated budgets. It is PSD management that undermines their intent. Stop treating planetary research as a slush fund. 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 LUNAR SCIENCE FORUM 2013 (LSF2013): SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT ***IMPORTANT CHANGE*** LSF2013 will be a VIRTUAL conference with NO "in-person" component this year! Due to the recent government restrictions on travel, The NASA Lunar Science Institute will broadcast the annual NASA Lunar Science Forum (LSF) as a virtual conference the week of July 15-19, 2013. The conference will be broadcast between the hours of 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. PDT, Monday-Friday, to accommodate a wide spread in time zones. The scientific program will feature sessions on in-depth scientific results from the recent and pending missions, including: the Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS), and Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) missions. This year's conference will have unique features enabled by virtual technology that will be described in later notices, along with features of the LSF the community has appreciated in the past: the annual Shoemaker Award Lecture (winner to be announced at the meeting), the NASA Townhall, a virtual poster session, a virtual LunarGradCon (for graduate students). Abstracts deadline: Midnight PDT April 26, 2013 For more information about the format, abstract submission and logistics, please visit: http://lunarscience.nasa.gov/LSF2013/ 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] PDS RELEASES 3 NEW DATA SETS: DEEP IMPACT AT COMET HARTLEY 2 The Small Bodies Node of the Planetary Data System is pleased to announce the public release of three certified and archived data sets from the Deep Impact extended mission to comet 103P/Hartley 2: http://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/holdings /dif-c-hrii-3_4-epoxi-hartley2-v2.0/dataset.html DIF-C-HRII-3/4-EPOXI-HARTLEY2-V2.0 updates the V1.0 version of HRI IR Imaging of the comet, with significantly improved calibration. http://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/holdings /dif-c-hriv-5-epoxi-hartley2-deconv-v1.0/dataset.html DIF-C-HRIV-5-EPOXI-HARTLEY2-DECONV-V1.0 presents deconvolved, high- resolution images of the nucleus of Hartley 2. http://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/holdings /dif-c-mri-5-epoxi-hartley2-photom-v1.0/dataset.html DIF-C-MRI-5-EPOXI-HARTLEY2-PHOTOM-V1.0 contains clear-filter, CN, OH, C2 and dust-continuum photometry derived from the Medium Resolution Instrument visible CCD images acquired during the encounter with Hartley 2. These and all other Deep Impact primary and EPOXI extended mission data sets are available from the PDS Small Bodies Node: http://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/ 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 [NASA] BIOSIGNATURES INVESTIGATOR NASA Ames Research Center in the San Francisco bay area is seeking a Biosignatures Principal Investigator to join its Exobiology Branch. The position is responsible for conducting microbiological and/or geologic research to identify biosignatures that can reveal and characterize past or present life in environments relevant to astrobiology, such as Mars. A job announcement, required qualifications, and application procedure are available at: https://www.usajobs.gov/ Search for announcement # AR13B0008. 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 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 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 ABSTRACT DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR NSLI WORKSHOP WITHOUT WALLS: LUNAR VOLATILES The NASA Lunar Science Institute announces a virtual meeting to present and discuss the latest research regarding volatiles on the Moon. Go to: http://lunarscience.nasa.gov/workshop/lunar-volatiles/ Dates: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 ­ Thursday, May 23, 2013 (times TBD) Location: Online, virtual meeting using AdobeConnect Abstract Deadline: April 17, 2013 Abstract Submissions: After registering for the meeting, abstracts may be submitted by logging in at the website above. Note: there is a 500-word limit. Program Committee: Rick Elphic Dana Hurley Georgiana Kramer Sarah Noble Yvonne Pendleton Carle Pieters Jerry Sanders Mike Wargo Contact: Ana Hurley, JHUAPL (dana.hurley@jhuapl.edu) Georgiana Kramer, LPI (kramer@lpi.usra.edu) 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] INTENT TO RELEASE SOLICITATION ON INSTRUMENT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE EUROPA CLIPPER MISSION CONCEPT NASA intends to release a call for instrument technology development in support of the Europa Clipper mission concept entitled "Instrument Concepts for Europa Exploration (ICEE)". The goal is to mature and reduce the technical risk of instruments for the Europa Clipper mission to the point where they may be proposed in response to a possible future announcement of flight opportunity without additional extensive technology development. NASA plans to release the NRA no later than April 30; we anticipate that proposals will be due 45 days later. The Europa Clipper strawman payload includes an Ice Penetrating Radar (IPR), a Shortwave Infrared Spectrometer (SWIRS), a Topographic Imager (TI), a mass spectrometer (MS), and a magnetometer. The IPR, SWIRS, TI, and MS have been identified as needing significant early development to enable them to operate in the Europan environment, and NASA plans to target those instruments with this funding opportunity. While other instruments may be proposed, selection preference will be given to proposed instruments in these four categories. Questions and comments should be addressed to: Curt Niebur 202-358-0390 curt.niebur@nasa.gov [Edited for length.] 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 [NASA] PLANETARY INSTRUMENT CONCEPTS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SOLAR SYSTEM OBSERVATIONS Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations (PICASSO) program supports the development of spacecraft-based instrument systems that show promise for use in future planetary missions. The goal of the program is to conduct planetary and astrobiology science instrument feasibility studies, concept formation, proof of concept instruments, and advanced component technology development to the point where they may be proposed in response to Appendix C.19 of ROSES. Therefore, the proposed instrument system or advanced components must address specific scientific objectives of likely future planetary science missions. The objective of the program is to develop new technologies that significantly improve instrument measurement capabilities for planetary science missions (such as Discovery, New Frontiers, Mars Exploration, and other planetary programs). Notices of Intent deadline: July 19, 2013 Proposals deadline: September 13, 2013. Janice Buckner 202-358-0183 janice.l.buckner@nasa.gov [Edited 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 ATMOSPHERES RESEARCHER (GSFC/CRESST/UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND) The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Planetary Environments Laboratory, in conjunction with the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology (CRESST), is soliciting applications for a researcher in the field of Planetary Atmospheres to support Mars upper atmosphere investigations with the MAVEN mission. Additional details are available at: http://www.astro.umd.edu/employment/ Candidates should have a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline with a strong and demonstrated interest in and understanding of upper atmospheric physics. IDL skills and experience in acquisition and analysis of data from space flight instruments are highly desirable. The University of Maryland is an equal opportunity employer. All applications received by Monday, April 29, 2013 will receive full consideration. 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 DYNAMIC MARS FROM LONG-TERM OBSERVATIONS We are well into the 2nd decade of continuous Mars observations that began with MGS and continued with ODY, MEX, and MRO. Bridged to earlier times by spacecraft observations from the 1960s onwards, and a continuous telescopic campaign, our view of Mars is now one of a planet on which surface and atmospheric changes occur at frequencies of days, years, and decades, a testament to long-term monitoring that continues to this day. At this time, it is appropriate that this record, with implications for Martian geology, climate, atmospheric dynamics, and other processes, be integrated into a journal special section, published in either Icarus or JGR-Planets by January 2014. To support a proposal to publication journal, please submit paper titles, author lists, and interest/commitment level (definite, likely, possible) for papers that: * Include surface, sub-surface, and atmosphere observations, or model results, that are new and a unique outcome of the long-term data acquisition provided by Mars spacecraft and telescopes * Highlight the long-term implications of processes that are observed and ongoing now * Are not reviews of previous work, unless new conclusions are drawn By April 19, please send information to: Leslie.Tamppari@jpl.nasa.gov Nathan.Bridges@jhuapl.edu 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 THE PLUTO SYSTEM ON THE EVE OF EXPLORATION BY NEW HORIZONS: PERSPECTIVES AND PREDICTIONS - ABSTRACTS DUE MONDAY The April 15 deadline for abstracts to the conference, "The Pluto System on the Eve of Exploration by New Horizons: Perspectives and Predictions," is tomorrow. The conference will be held 22-26 July at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, USA. A special issue of Icarus is planned to publish new results and prediction papers in advance of the New Horizons flyby. Both registration and abstract submission are available for the Pluto 2013 conference at: http://plutoscience.jhuapl.edu Abstracts are solicited on all facets of the Pluto system - including origins, interiors, surfaces, compositions, atmospheres, satellites, plasma, and context in the Kuiper Belt. Alan Stern (Program Committee Chair) Hal Weaver (Local Organizing Committee Chair) 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 May 21-23, 2013 NLSI Workshop Without Walls: Lunar Volatiles (Part 1) http://lunarscience.nasa.gov/workshop/lunar-volatiles/ ONLINE June 21-25, 2013 Medium-Size Telescope Science Workshop http://mstw.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/1 Kunming, China [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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