PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 39 (September 8, 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. In Memoriam: Bushun N. Khare (1933-2013) 2. In Memoriam: Bruce Murray (1931-2013) 3. [NASA] PDS Announces Dawn's Framing Camera Data for Vesta Now Accessible on the Small Bodies Image Browser 4. [NASA] PDS - Dawn VIR Data Release 5. [NASA] PDS - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 26 6. Future In-Space Operations (FISO) Working Group Seminars 7. Io Workshop 2013: Coordination for the EXCEED Mission 8. Special Issue of Icarus: MSL 1st Year Results 9. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 10. [NASA] Reviewers Sought for MMAMA and PICASSO 11. [NASA] Planetary Protection Removed from ROSES 2013 12. Mars Express OMEGA Global Map Data Set 13. Research Associate in Planetary Ring Studies 14. NRAO Community Day at the 45th DPS Meeting: Enhancing Your Solar System Science with the Best Radio/Mm/Submm Facilities 15. Announcing the 2013 DPS Women in Planetary Science Lunch 16. Exoclimes III: The Diversity of Planetary Atmospheres 17. [NASA] Ames Research Center Job Announcement AR13B0014, Research Space Scientist, AST, Planetary Studies, GS-1330-12/13 18. Planetary Science: Progress with Suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicles 19. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions Commercial Announcements C1. "Fundamental Planetary Science" by Jack J. Lissauer and Imke de Pater C2. New Book on Planetary Geology 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 IN MEMORIAM: BISHUN N. KHARE (1933-2013) Our colleague and friend Bishun Khare died quietly on August 20 at the age of 80. Bishun is widely known for his early work on organic solid residues (tholins) related to the aerosols in planetary atmospheres and the interstellar medium, performed for many years at Cornell University in collaboration with Carl Sagan. Their 1984 paper gave the optical constants of Titan tholin from the X-ray to microwave region, and has served as a fundamental input to modeling work that included planetary surfaces in addition to atmospheric aerosols. That key paper has received well over 300 citations, and has stimulated much additional research on tholins, both in the US and in Europe. In 1996, Bishun moved from Cornell to NASA Ames Research Center on a Senior National Research Council fellowship, and subsequently joined the SETI Institute. He continued his research on many topics in his Ames lab, and mentored a great number of students, including supervising the thesis work of graduate students. Bishun was a patient, kind, and sharing individual, who loved to talk about science, especially the organic materials in Nature and those he could synthesize in his lab. Composed by D. Cruikshank. [From the DPS Newsletter] 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 IN MEMORIAM: BRUCE MURRAY (1931-2013) Bruce Murray, former JPL Director, co-founder of the Planetary Society, and Caltech Emeritus Professor passed away on August 29. In the words of JPL's Director Charles Elachi, "Bruce was JPL's fifth Director, serving from 1976 to 1982, but his association with JPL goes back much further. He was a Caltech geologist and a key member of the Mariner 4 Imaging team that captured the first close up image of Mars in 1964. It was only the first of four planetary missions in which he played a vital role as a scientist. Shortly after Bruce became Director, JPL was the scene for mission operations for the landings of Viking 1 and 2 on Mars. The following year Voyager 1 and 2 were launched, and Bruce led the lab through the Voyagers' encounters at Jupiter and Saturn. He worked tirelessly to save our nation's planetary exploration capability at a tumultuous time when there was serious talk of curtailing future missions. Along with Carl Sagan and Lou Friedman, he founded The Planetary Society. Long after returning to Caltech as a professor, he continued to be a strong voice in expressing the importance of space exploration." [From the DPS Newsletter] 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 ANNOUNCES DAWN'S FRAMING CAMERA DATA FOR VESTA NOW ACCESSIBLE ON THE SMALL BODIES IMAGE BROWSER The Asteroid Subnode of the Planetary Data System is pleased to announce the release of the Dawn missions Framing Camera's data into the Small Bodies Image Browser (SBIB): http://sbib.psi.edu The SBIB tool is designed to provide direct access to the image data maintained at the Small Bodies Asteroid subnode. One can click on the overview map (or click and drag a search box) and do a search for all images that fall within that region. The SBIB will provide a list of images, their footprints on the overview map, and thumbnails that can be either as viewed by the spacecraft or map-projected. Level 1A and 1B are available in IMG (native format), FITS, JPEG, PNG and ISIS cubes (both basic cubes and map projected cubes with coordinates). The data currently in the system are all of the framing camera images of Vesta from Survey through the 2nd High Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO 2). The data have been accepted by the PDS in time for the upcoming Planetary Mission Data Analysis Program deadline. Questions or comments, contact Dr. Eric Palmer, epalmer@psi.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] PDS - DAWN VIR DATA RELEASE The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce the release of the Dawn Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) L1a (raw) and L1b (calibrated) data for all Vesta phases. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/resource/dwnvvir.html For access to all PDS-archived Dawn data, go to: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/archive/dawn.html 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] PDS MARS - RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 26 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) data for the following instruments: CRISM CTX HiRISE MARCI MCS RSS SPICE There will be no SHARAD data and no derived gravity data for this release. In general, MRO Release 26 includes data collected from November 9, 2012, through February 8, 2013. The release includes HiRISE data for May 5, 2013, to August 2, 2013. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20130903.html All available PDS data may be found at: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: http://pds.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 FUTURE IN-SPACE OPERATIONS (FISO) WORKING GROUP SEMINARS You are invited to participate in the weekly Future In-Space Operations (FISO) Working Group seminars that are conducted by telecon on Wednesdays at 3 PM EDT. This was begun in 2006, as an innovative outreach effort providing researchers, industry leaders, and policy makers information on "hot topics" of strategic importance. It is co-chaired by Harley Thronson (NASA GSFC) and Dan Lester (U. Texas), and it is described in some detail in: http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2233/1 For dial-in information, the schedule of upcoming seminars, and an archive of presentations and audio recordings of seminars and discussions, go to: http://spirit.as.utexas.edu/~fiso/telecon.htm 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 IO WORKSHOP 2013: COORDINATION FOR THE EXCEED MISSION Saturday 12th October, 2013 Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO This 1-day scientific meeting will be held in downtown Boulder after DPS Denver to discuss the latest research and developments in Io science since the 2012 Io Workshop. The Japanese EUV Sprint-A/EXCEED mission was to launch in August 2013 on the new EPSILON launch vehicle but has been delayed. EXCEED will observe the Jovian aurora and Io plasma torus for a number of months. This workshop will focus on topics which might benefit from EXCEED data and coordinated observations at all wavelengths, though presentations on other aspects of Io science will be accepted if time allows. For more information, regular updates and to register your interest, please go to: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~con/ioworkshop2013 Organizers: Constantine Tsang, John Spencer, Fran Bagenal, Rosaly Lopes Contact Email: con@boulder.swri.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 SPECIAL ISSUE OF ICARUS: MSL 1ST YEAR RESULTS The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has completed its first Earth year of operations, revealing a diversity of rock and soil types, including an ancient streambed, unusual igneous rocks, mudstones, mineral veins, and hydrated surface and subsurface materials. The elemental composition and mineralogy of the first drilled samples suggest conditions that could have been capable of supporting life. Now that initial operations and testing of the rover capabilities have been completed in the Yellowknife Bay area, the rover has begun its traverse towards the entrance to Mt. Sharp. As such, it is timely to coordinate results from MSL's first year of operations into a journal special issue, submitted to Icarus by October 1, 2013. This special issue is for papers that: - Include observations and analyses of MSL data related to atmospheric science, geologic and geomorphologic studies, surface properties, radiation environment, and mineralogy and geochemistry of the surface and subsurface materials analyzed by Curiosity - Incorporate additional orbital data sets of the Curiosity landing site region Author guidelines for preparation of manuscript can be found at: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home /505620/authorinstructions Please contact the editorial office at icarus@astro.cornell.edu with any questions. 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 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 of a research opportunity in planetary science is: https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/17590 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. The latest 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 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 [NASA] REVIEWERS SOUGHT FOR MMAMA AND PICASSO The Planetary Science Division has two new volunteer reviewer web forms on the SARA web page. The Science Mission Directorate is currently seeking volunteer reviewers for the evaluation of proposals to ROSES 2013 Appendix C.14 Moon and Mars Analogue Mission Activities (MMAMA) and ROSES 2013 Appendix C.16: Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations. Both of these can be found at: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/volunteer-review-panels/ 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] PLANETARY PROTECTION REMOVED FROM ROSES 2013 When the ROSES-2013 omnibus solicitation was released in February, Appendix C.18, the Planetary Protection Research Program (PPRP) due dates were listed as "TBD." We regret to inform proposers that PPRP will not be solicited in ROSES-13. The impacts of sequestration in the current fiscal year and lowered future planning budgets don't leave enough funds to support both existing and future investigations in FY 2014. Appendix C.18 will appear in Tables two and three of ROSES-13 as "Not solicited this year." Questions concerning Appendix C.18, the Planetary Protection Research Program, may be directed to Cassie Conley at cassie.conley@nasa.gov. This and all Amendments to ROSES 12 can be found at: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations /roses-2013/ where one can also subscribe to a convenient RSS feed. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 MARS EXPRESS OMEGA GLOBAL MAP DATA SET The first release of the Mars Express OMEGA Mars Global Map Data Set is available at the ESA planetary Science Archive: ftp://psa.esac.esa.int/pub/mirror/MARS-EXPRESS/OMEGA /MEX-M-OMEGA-5-DDR-GLOBAL-MAPS-V1.0 The data set can be visualised in Google Earth using this link: http://www.rssd.esa.int/SB/PSA/include/missions/mex /omega-mars-global-maps_netlink.kmz 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN PLANETARY RING STUDIES We invite applications for a position as a Research Associate at Cornell University. This will support investigations into planetary ring processes, in particular the planning and analysis of imaging (ISS) and infrared (VIMS) observations obtained by the Cassini mission now orbiting Saturn. Our specific interests lie in structural and dynamical processes of Saturn's rings, including its main and faint rings and small satellites. Candidates must have a PhD in the physical sciences (planetary science, astronomy, physics, geophysics, or related fields). The initial appointment is for one year, but the appointment is renewable for at least an additional year. Review of applications has begun, but we will accept applications until September 30. The expected start date is later in fall 2013, but is negotiable. Applicants should submit a resume, a one-page statement of research experience and interests, and names of three potential references to Lynda Sovocool (lmk3@cornell.edu), Human Resource Manager, 106 Space Sciences Bldg., Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853. Cornell University is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Section 504/ADA employer. 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 NRAO COMMUNITY DAY AT THE 45TH DPS MEETING: ENHANCING YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE WITH THE BEST RADIO/MM/SUBMM FACILITIES Monday October 7th, 12-1:30pm The National Radio Astronomy Observatory invites you to a NRAO Community Event at the 45th DPS meeting. This event is designed for the planetary science community, and in particular for those who do not regularly utilize radio data in their research. If you would like to learn more about the science that is possible with NRAO facilities and the proposal/observations process - this session is for you! We will provide a brief overview of the NRAO facilities and their instruments followed by broad talks describing the variety of submm, mm and cm observations possible for Solar System bodies by I. de Pater (Berkeley) and M. Kelley (U. Maryland). We will discuss practical information on how to design and optimize proposals, focusing on the recent call for proposals for ALMA Cycle 2. No registration is required to attend but we will provide lunch for those registering early on our website: https://science.nrao.edu/php/nrao-cd-dps/index.php Kartik Sheth & Arielle Moullet Contacts : ksheth@nrao.edu; amoullet@nrao.edu 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 ANNOUNCING THE 2013 DPS WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE LUNCH Join us for an informal meeting and discussion hour over lunch at the Division of Planetary Sciences Meeting in Denver, CO. This year's overall topic will be leadership. We will have a brief presentation, but are planning for a very interactive program with lots of time for discussion among participants. Please feel free to bring any information/announcements related to women in astronomy and planetary science to share. Due to the generosity of the DPS committee, we will be able to provide boxed lunches this year. All are welcome! RSVPs are requested due to space limitations and for planning the lunch order: http://bit.ly/WIA_2013 Important: I have just been alerted that the catering order needs to be placed by Sept. 15th, so please RSVP if you think you might attend, and please pass this invite and RSVP page on to interested persons! Sincerely, Kelsi Singer and the Professional Development Committee of the DPS 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 EXOCLIMES III: THE DIVERSITY OF PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES We are pleased to invite you to the Third Exoclimes Conference on the diversity of planetary atmospheres, from Earth to exoplanets. This international meeting will take place in Davos, Switzerland, on 9-14 February 2014. The objective of the meeting is to bring together Earth, Solar System and Exoplanet specialists to discuss recent results and the way ahead. It follows on two successful previous editions, in Exeter in 2010 and Aspen in 2012. Review talks cover topics from Earth's paleo-climates to Jupiter and Titan, to the atmosphere of exoplanets and cool brown dwarfs, and focus on comparative planetology with a wide perspective. More information is available at: http://www.exoclimes.org 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] AMES RESEARCH CENTER JOB ANNOUNCEMENT AR13B0014, RESEARCH SPACE SCIENTIST, AST, PLANETARY STUDIES, GS-1330-12/13 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/349635800 NASA, the world's leader in space and aeronautics is always seeking outstanding scientists, engineers, and other talented professionals to carry forward the great discovery process that its mission demands. The Exobiology Branch (Code SSX) at NASA Ames Research Center is currently seeking interested applicants for the position of Research Space Scientist. The incumbent is responsible for conducting microbiological and/or geologic research to identify biosignatures that characterize past/present life in environments related to astrobiology. He/she studies the origin, composition, structure, and evolution of the solar system, including planets and satellites; the Earth and Moon; and meteorites, asteroids, comets and dust. As a Research Space Scientist, the incumbent is responsible for conducting research involving modern field samples, ancient terrestrial rocks, meteorites, extraterrestrial materials, ices, Mars analog rocks, and returned data from spaceflight missions. He/she conducts research that emphasizes on the elucidation and characterization of modern, ancient, or extraterrestrial habitable zones and mineral biosignature. This includes the evaluation of preservation potential related to biosignatures; primary/secondary mineral phases associated with habitable zones; and the development of databases, microbial specimens, and geological collections for planetary studies and spacecraft missions. 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 SCIENCE: PROGRESS WITH SUBORBITAL REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES (SRLV) Sunday, October 6, 2013 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Director's Row I Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel Suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicles (sRLV), ranging from balloons to spacecraft, provide new, cost-effective platforms for planetary science observations and experiments. From the on-going BRISSON campaign to observe comet ISON to contained simulations of planetary formation processes in zero-G, planetary scientists are now utilizing these vehicles in their research. The modest costs and development times for suborbital missions provide excellent training opportunities for future spacecraft mission PIs and developers of spacecraft instruments. Suborbital platforms offer advantages for increasing technology readiness level for flight experiments at a fraction of the cost of traditional orbital platforms. This second DPS workshop updates the use of rSLVs for instrumentation, spacecraft and mission design to address and answer planetary science questions. Composed of talks and open discussion, this workshop will present science results and lessons learned from planetary scientists engaged in research and suborbital spacecraft industries. 19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html October 16-17, 2013 Astronomy in the TMT Era http://tmt.mtk.nao.ac.jp/astro_tmt_era2013 Tokyo, Japan March 16, 2014 International Workshop on Scientific Opportunities in Cislunar Space (SOCS) - SOCS 1 http://socsworkshops.com Houston, TX April 9-11, 2014 International Workshop on Lunar Superconductor Applications (LSA) http://lsaworkshops.com Cocoa Beach, FL July 6-11, 2014 CoRoT3-KASC7: The Space Photometry Revolution http://kasc7.asteroseismology.org Toulouse, France [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.] *********************************************************************** COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS *********************************************************************** C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1 "FUNDAMENTAL PLANETARY SCIENCE" BY JACK J. LISSAUER AND IMKE DE PATER Cambridge University Press is pleased to announce the publication of an engaging new textbook for advanced undergraduate students, which explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets. Building on the success of their award-winning graduate textbook, the authors provide an overview of our current knowledge and discuss some of the unanswered questions at the forefront of research in planetary science and astrobiology today. They combine knowledge of the Solar System and the properties of extrasolar planets with astrophysical observations of ongoing star and planet formation, offering a comprehensive model for understanding the origin of planetary systems. With more than 200 exercises to help students learn how to apply the concepts covered, this textbook is ideal for a one-semester or two-quarter course for undergraduate students. The text will be available at the DPS meeting in Denver. To find out more information and to order an examination copy (instructors only), visit: http://www.cambridge.org/lissauer/ C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2 NEW BOOK ON PLANETARY GEOLOGY Now available from Dunedin Academic Press, "Planetary Geology: An Introduction (Second Edition)" [ISBN 9781780460154 - $49.50] Is written by Claudio Vita-Finzi and Dominic Fortes. Recent planetary missions by NASA, the European Space Agency, and other national agencies have reaffirmed that the geological processes which are familiar from our studies of the Earth operate on many solid planets and satellites. Common threads link the internal structure, thermal evolution, and surface character of both rocky and icy worlds. Volcanoes, impact craters, ice caps, dunes, rift valleys, rivers, and oceans are features of extra-terrestrial worlds as diverse as Mercury and Titan. "Planetary Geology" provides students and armchair enthusiasts with comprehensive coverage of the solar system viewed through the eyes of Earth scientists. This comprehensively updated second edition presents fresh evidence that planetary geology now embraces conventional geology and vice versa. Great for classes, the book contains numerous color illustrations. Place orders with Dunedin's North America distributor, International Specialized Book Services (ISBS) - phone 1-800-944-6190. ISBS website link: http://www.isbs.com/partnumber.asp?cid=&pnid=413275 International Specialized Book Services 920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300 Portland, OR 97213 USA 1-503-287-3093 or within North America 1-800-944-6190 Fax: 1-503-280-8832 Join our mailing list! *********************************************************************** * 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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. 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