PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 35 (August 11, 2013) 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. AGU Session P010 - First Results of C/2012 S1 (ISON): Comet of the Century? 2. New Interplanetary Dust Mission 3. Mars Critical Data Products Program (Round VIII) - Comet Siding Spring Modeling 4. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 5. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 6. [NASA] Notice of Mars 2020 Solicitation to Appear in September 7. 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 AGU SESSION P010 - FIRST RESULTS OF C/2012 S1 (ISON): COMET OF THE CENTURY? Comet C/2102 S1, popularly known as C/ISON, is a sun-grazing comet, originating in the Oort cloud. It is predicted to be the brightest comet of the century and has captured the interest of global professional and amateur astronomers alike. On its initial passage through the inner solar system, C/ISON potentially can become a very bright daytime object as it approaches perihelion in November 2013. Whether the comet lives up to the predictions or not, first results from various world-wide coordinated observing campaigns, including an armada of spacecraft, orbiting telescopes and ground-based professional and amateur facilities will be showcased. Conveners: Padma Yanamandra-Fisher, Space Science Institute, padma@spacescience.org Karen Meech, University of Hawaii meech@ifa.hawaii.edu Michael Mumma, University of Maryland Michael.J.Mumma@nasa.gov Carey Lisse, John Hopkins University carey.lisse@jhuapl.edu 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 INTERPLANETARY DUST MISSION We would like to inform you, that a proposal has been submitted to ESA with the title "Solar System Debris Disk - S2D2" in response to the call of ESA for mission themes for the next L2/L3 class mission. The mission proposes in-situ observations and sample return to probe the orbital and compositional connection between the dust in the inner interplanetary debris disk and its source bodies, mapping the sky in dust. This mission will provide a direct comparison of the composition of interstellar raw material with the more processed material from comets and asteroids. The full proposal can be seen at the S2D2 webpage: http://www.dsi.uni-stuttgart.de/cosmicdust/missions/ debrisdisk/index.html We would like to broaden the community that is interested in this mission. To show your support, please, send an e-mail to debrisdisk@irs.uni-stuttgart.de with the subject "interest". Dr. R. Srama (Univ. Stuttgart) Prof. E. Gruen Prof. S. Krivov Dr. R. Soja Dr. V. Sterken Prof. Z. Sternovsky 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 MARS CRITICAL DATA PRODUCTS PROGRAM (ROUND VIII) - COMET SIDING SPRING MODELING The Mars Exploration Program has issued, in August 2013, a Request for Proposal for round VIII of the Mars Critical Data Products program. This RFP provides support of the modeling the dust and particle environment of Comet 2013 A1 (Siding Spring) during its encounter with Mars in October 2014. The intent is to provide data products useful for risk assessment and mitigation strategy development for the Mars orbiter missions, due to possible impacts from dust and ion tail particles as this comet encounters Mars. Proposals are due on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. Details of the RFPs are posted at: https://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/RFP/MJ-2692-072413/default.htm or https://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/bizops/ 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 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides opportunities for scientists and engineers to conduct research largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research opportunities posted on the NPP Web site. Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA's missions in earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration and space operations, and astrobiology. An example research opportunity is: https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18360 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. NPP Newsletter: http://bit.ly/14cNpfH For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions: nasapostdoc@orau.org 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/Aug13Image.html This Month's topic is on "Saturn's Small Inner Satellites". Image and caption contributed by Peter Thomas, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Past images and captions are available at: http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/index.html Mary Bourke 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 [NASA] NOTICE OF MARS 2020 SOLICITATION TO APPEAR IN SEPTEMBER In late Sept we intend to release the Mars 2020 Announcement of Opportunity. Links to the AO and additional information about the intent and the capabilities of the Mars 2020 Rover, as well as the report of the Science Definition Team (SDT) and SDT FAQs will all be located at the Mars 2020 Acquisition Website: http://soma.larc.nasa.gov/mars2020 Questions or comments about the planned solicitation may be sent to Dr. Mitchell D. Schulte at mars2020-ao@lists.nasa.gov by Friday August 23rd in order to be considered for the final AO. The character string "Mars 2020 AO" must be included in the subject line of all communications. [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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html No new meetings. [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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. 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