PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 27 (June 16, 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. Postdoctoral Researcher in Planetary Mapping and Impact Studies: Lunar and Planetary Institute 2. Uranus Beyond Voyager 2: From Recent Advances to Future Missions 3. Registration Open for SBAG 9 4. Registration Opens For NASA Night Rover Energy Challenge 5. New Horizons Encounter Hazard Update 6. [NASA] PDS Mars Science Laboratory Release 2 7. Optical Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols Workshop 8. Icarus Special Issue: Dynamic Mars From Long-Term Observations 9. [NASA] Clarification On Research Supported by MFRP 10. Announcement of Opportunity to Submit Input to Study on Human Spaceflight 11. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 12. CPSX Planetary Scinece Short Course 13. International Scientific Workshop on Golden Spike Human Lunar Expeditions - Call for Abstracts 14. [NASA] PDS GRAIL Release 2 15. Comet ISON Observer's Workshop, Aug 1-2, 2013 16. Student Opportunity - Sudbury Field Camp 17. [NASA] Outer Planet Working Group (OPAG) Meeting Site Now Open 18. 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 RESEARCH IN PLANETARY MAPPING AND IMPACT STUDIES: LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE Universities Space Research Association (USRA) invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in planetary science in Houston, Texas. The candidate will work with Dr. Paul Schenk, investigating the impact crater shapes and distributions on icy satellites, including Enceladus, using the entire Cassini image library, and supplementary stereo and shape-from-shading techniques (although experience in these tools is not required). The candidate will also be expected to develop their own research projects using this data. Candidate must have a recent Ph.D. in geology or geophysics and have a strong background in remote sensing/image processing of spacecraft data, and preferably experience in geophysical or mapping investigations. The position is generally for two years, with a possible extension to three years. Apply to the posting at: https://usracareers.silkroad.com/ include a letter of interest, a curriculum vita with a list of publications, a brief statement of research interests, and a list of three references. Review of candidates begins August 1, 2013, with a hiring decision, as soon as possible thereafter. Information on current research and facilities at the LPI is found on our website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu 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 URANUS BEYOND VOYAGER 2: FROM RECENT ADVANCES TO FUTURE MISSIONS With rising interest in the community for Uranus and its environment, we are pleased to announce an international conference on "Uranus Beyond Voyager 2: From Recent Advances to Future Missions". The meeting will be held from 16 to 18 September 2013 at the Observatory of Paris (Meudon, France), immediately after the EPSC meeting (the week before in London, UK) to facilitate travels. The meeting will be organized along eight sessions addressing various aspects of the study and the exploration of this planetary system, with ample time for presentations and discussions. We also welcome specific posters on possible instrumentation suitable to a Uranus mission. A preliminary program, including invited presentations, is available on the webpage below. We warmly welcome contributions to these sessions *** by 15 June 2013 ***. (Note: This announcement was submitted late to the PEN editorial office, so we will accommodate contributions submitted shortly after 15 June where possible.) More details can be found on the webpage: http://uranus.sciencesconf.org We hope you will be able to attend. Sincerely, Laurent Lamy and Mark Hofstadter on behalf of the organizing committee 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 REGISTRATION OPEN FOR SBAG 9 Registration is now open for SBAG 9, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC, July 10-11. Go to: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/ A draft agenda is also posted. To get on the SBAG listserv, go to: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/iOfi/index.cfm 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 REGISTRATION OPENS FOR NASA NIGHT ROVER ENERGY CHALLENGE Registration is now open for teams wishing to compete in the $1.5 million energy storage competition known as the Night Rover Challenge, sponsored by NASA and managed by Cleantech Open of Palo Alto, Calif. Registration for the competition will close October 25, 2013. The competition will be held January 20, 2014 through March 24, 2014. For more information, go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method =init&solId={22395A3D-DA0E-BB95-4C82-2C50ECD97E08}&path=open "The goal of the Night Rover Challenge is to stimulate innovations in energy storage technologies of value in extreme space environments, such as the surface of the moon, or for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems here on Earth," said Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator for Space Technology. "NASA wants this challenge to generate new ideas that will allow planetary rovers the ability to take on a night shift, and possibly create new energy storage technologies for applications of benefit here on our home planet." The Night Rover Challenge is part of the Centennial Challenges Program within NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. For more information about NASA's investment in space technology, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech 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 NEW HORIZONS ENCOUNTER HAZARD UPDATE Alan Stern (SwRI) & Hal Weaver (JHU/APL) The New Horizons Project recently completed a 1.5-year study of the potential dust impact hazard from small-satellite-generated debris as the spacecraft flies through the Pluto system in July 2015. This study concluded that the probability of a mission-ending dust impact is <0.3% if the spacecraft follows the current baseline plan, far below some early, more conservative estimates. Thus, the expectation is that the NH spacecraft will follow this baseline plan, with a close approach of ~12,500 km from the surface of Pluto. However, two alternative plans (called SHBOTs, for Safe Haven By Other Trajectories) are also being developed to mitigate the (unlikely) possibility that new knowledge indicates the hazard risk is greater than predicted. For both SHBOTs, the spacecraft will be turned so the antenna faces the incoming dust particles ("Antenna-To-Ram", or ATR) during the few hours of greatest risk, but Generic Inner SHBOT (GIS) has essentially the same trajectory as the current baseline, while Deep Inner SHBOT (DIS) diverts the trajectory to within ~3000 km of Pluto's surface, where atmospheric drag removes dust on very short timescales. Further discussion is available at: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/overview/piPerspective.php 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] PDS MARS SCIENCE LABORATIRY RELEASE 2 The NASA Planetary Data System announces the second release of data from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, covering data acquired from Sols 90 through 179 (November 6, 2012, through February 6, 2013). This release consists of raw and derived data sets from instruments: Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) Chemistry & Micro-Imaging (ChemCam) Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) Hazard Avoidance Cameras (Hazcam) Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) Mast-mounted Cameras (Mastcam) Navigation Cameras (Navcam) Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) SPICE kernels Links to all MSL data sets may be found at: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/msl/ The data may also be reached from: http://pds.nasa.gov/ MSL data are archived at the PDS Atmospheres, Planetary Plasma Interactions (PPI), Geosciences, Imaging, and Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF) Nodes. PDS offers two services for searching the MSL archives: The Planetary Image Atlas at the Imaging Node allows selection of MSL image data by search criteria: http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search. The MSL Analyst's Notebook at the Geosciences Node allows searching and downloading of all MSL data in the context of mission events: http://an.rsl.wustl.edu/msl 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 OPTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS WORKSHOP The Optical Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols workshop will take place at the Congress Centre Smolenice SAS, Slovak Republic in November 5-7, 2013. The main goal of the workshop is to present an opportunity for scientists in different fields to meet and form efficient collaborations in the research of atmospheric aerosols, including aerosol characterization, remote sensing, instrumentation, and optical modeling. Abstract submission due is June 30, 2013. The meeting website is: http://www.ocaa2013.sav.sk/ 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 ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE: DYNAMIC MARS FROM LONG-TERM OBSERVATIONS We are well into the 2nd decade of continuous Mars observations that began with MGS and have continued with ODY, MEX, MRO, and our landed spacecraft. 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, submitted to Icarus by November 15, 2013. This special issue is for 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 Author guidelines for preparation of manuscript can be found at: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home /505620/authorinstructions For more information, please contact the editorial office at icarus@astro.cornell.edu 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 [NASA] CLARIFICATION ON RESEARCH SUPPORTED BY MFRP The Mars Fundamental Research Program (MFRP) includes identifying past or present environments on Mars that have the potential to support microbial life. However, investigations exploring the capabilities of Terran life to survive, metabolize, and/or propagate in extreme environments are not considered part of MFRP. 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT INPUT TO STUDY ON HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT The NRC's Committee on Human Spaceflight is conducting a congressionally-requested study to examine the goals, core capabilities, and direction of human space flight. This study will provide findings and recommendations to guide the U.S. human spaceflight enterprise in a sustainable manner. One important source of input is this call for short papers from communities around the world with an interest in human spaceflight. These papers should consider: 1. What are the important benefits provided to the United States and other countries by human spaceflight endeavors? 2. What are the greatest challenges to sustaining a U.S. government program in human spaceflight? 3. What are the ramifications and what would the nation and world lose if the United States terminated NASA's human spaceflight program? In discussing the above questions, respondents are asked to describe the reasoning that supports their arguments and, to the extent possible, include or cite any evidence that supports their views. In considering #1 above, submitters may consider private as well as government space programs. For more information on the committee and the goals of the study, go to: http://www.nationalacademies.org/humanspaceflight. [Edited for length] 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 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 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 CPSX PLANETARY SCIENCE SHORT COURSE The Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (http://cpsx.uwo.ca) and the NSERC CREATE program "Technologies and Techniques for Earth and Space Exploration" (http://create.uwo.ca) are pleased to announce that the next annual Planetary Science Short Course is now open for registration. This course will run September 2 to 8, 2013, at the University of Western Ontario, London, ON, and is suitable for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students and professionals from industry and government. Topics to be covered include origin of the solar system and planet formation; planetary interiors; planetary surfaces; astromaterials, planetary atmospheres; astrobiology, and exoplanets. Details on the course can be found here: http://cpsx.uwo.ca/study/courses/2013-short-course Students from Ontario can take this course for credit and details as to how to do this are provided on the website. Contact cpsx@uwo.ca for questions. 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP ON GOLDEN SPIKE HUMAN LUNAR EXPEDITIONS - CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Golden Spike and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) have announced a two-day workshop for the U.S. and international scientific community to explore the planned capabilities of Golden Spike human lunar expeditions planned to begin in 2020. The workshop will be held at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), located in the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) building, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston TX 77058, on October 3-4, 2013. The workshop will focus on landing site selection, surface experiment packages, sample return capabilities, and surface traverse planning. The second announcement with the call for abstracts and other detailed information is available at the meeting website: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/gs2013/ More information about Golden Spike can be found at: http://www.goldenspikecompany.com 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 [NASA] PDS GRAIL RELEASE 2 The Planetary Data System (PDS) announces the second release of the following Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) data: - LGRS EDR - Raw science data originating from the Lunar Gravity Ranging System (LGRS) on each of the two spacecraft comprising the GRAIL mission. - LGRS CDR - Calibrated and resampled data from the LGRS on each of the two spacecraft comprising the GRAIL mission. - RSS EDR - Raw radio science data and ancillary files from the GRAIL mission. - NAIF SPICE - Complete set of SPICE kernels created by GRAIL Navigation and archived by NAIF. This release includes LGRS EDR, LGRS CDR, and RSS EDR data acquired during the extended mission phase, from 2012-08-30 through 2012-12-12 and RSS EDR data acquired during the decommissioning mission phase, from 2012-12-12 through 2012-12-18. LGRS RDR data will be released in October, 2013. To access the above data, please visit: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/grail/ 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 COMET ISON OBSERVER'S WORKSHOP, AUG 1-2, 2013 Colleagues, I am pleased to invite you the Comet ISON Observer's Workshop. In order to facilitate the maximal observing of ISON, we will be holding a 2-day pre-encounter workshop at JHU/APL on 1-2 August 2013. The meeting's overarching goal is to maximize the scientific return from ISON's 2013 apparition. Confirmed speakers to date include Fast, Green, and Johnson of NASA HQ and Schrijver, Feaga, Fernandez, Knight, Lisse, and Wooden of our comet community. All interested parties are welcome to attend and discuss their observing plans and needs, and what is currently known about the comet. The format of the meeting will maximize group discussion and communication. There is no cost for attending this meeting, and a light breakfast and afternoon snacks will be served. Pre-registration using the Registration page linked to: https://dnnpro.outer.jhuapl.edu/isonworkshop/Home.aspx is required for attendance. Nearby hotels and restaurants are listed on the linked Lodging and Accommodations page. We look forward to seeing you at a lively and informative meeting. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email. Cordially, Casey Dr. Carey M. Lisse Carey.Lisse@jhuapl.edu 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 STUDENT OPPORTUNITY - SUDBURY FIELD CAMP The Short Course and Field School at the Sudbury Impact Structure is a week-long classroom and field training program based in Sudbury, Ontario. The goal of the program will be to introduce students to impact cratering processes and observe, in the field, the attributes of an immense basin-size impact structure. Sudbury is known for spectacular shatter cones, tremendously thick melt-bearing impact breccias (the Onaping Formation), and a differentiated impact melt sheet (the Sudbury Igneous Complex). Skills developed during the program should better prepare students for their own thesis studies in impact cratered terrains, whether they be on Earth, the Moon, Mars, or some other solar system planetary surface. This field camp is being organized under the auspices of the NASA Lunar Science Institute, which is designed, in part, to train a new generation of explorers for the Moon and beyond. The activity is being led the Canadian Lunar Research Network and the LPI-JSC Center for Lunar Science and Exploration. Course details are available in our syllabus. Please pass this information on to any students who might be interested. Application deadline: July 5, 2013 Required online application form at: www.lpi.usra.edu/nlsi/sudbury/ 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 [NASA] OUTER PLANET WORKING GROUP (OPAG) MEETING SITE NOW OPEN Go to: http://icpi.nasaprs.com/OPAG 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html September 16-18, 2013 Uranus Beyond Voyager 2: From Recent Advances to Future Missions http://uranus.sciencesconf.org Meudon, France September 29 - October 4, 2013 Sudbury Field Camp http://www.lpi.usra.edu/nlsi/sudbury/ Sudbury, Canada November 5-7, 2013 Optical Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols Workshop http://www.ocaa2013.sav.sk/ Smolenice, Slovak Republic [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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