PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 49 (October 13, 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. [NASA] Expected Amendments to SMD CAN and AO Due Date 2. [NASA] Documents Available on NSPIRES 3. Venus Technology Forum at VEXAG Meeting #11 - Tuesday, November 19th 4. Call for Imaging of Candidate Landing Sites for the 2020 Mars Rover Mission 5. [NASA] PDS - GRAIL Release 3 6. New Version of the AIDA Deconvolution Algorithm 7. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 8. Arizona State University - SESE Exploration Post-Doctoral Fellowships Available 9. Research Scientist Position(s) at LPL 10. ESA Mars Express HRSC Image Release of this Month: Hebes Chasma 11. 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 [NASA] EXPECTED AMENDMENTS TO SMD CAN AND AO DUE DATE Given the continuing Government shutdown, we expect to release amendments announcing the delay of proposal due dates next week (week of October 14, 2013). If the Government is still shutdown at the time these amendments are released, the due date will be set to "TBD". NSPIRES cannot support a "TBD" date, thus the date within the system will arbitrarily be set to 03/31/14 - to be consistent with ROSES "TBD" date changes. The solicitations will be amended again when the Government returns to work to provide the new due date. Programs under consideration for amendment next week are as follows: NNH13ZDA017C NASA Astrobiology Institute Cooperative Agreement (NAI CAN) Cycle 7: Step-1 proposals currently due November 4, 2013. NNH12ZDA006O-EVI2 Earth Venture Instrument - 2 Announcement of Opportunity (AO): Proposals currently due November 7, 2013. NNH13ZDA018O Mars 2020 Investigations Announcement of Opportunity (AO): Proposals currently due December 23, 2013. Decisions on amending ROSES NOI and proposal due dates that are currently set to the end of October and early November will be made at a later date. During the shutdown NASA personnel will not be available to answer questions, but the NSPIRES help line will be open. When the Government resumes business, questions should be directed to the Points of Contact for each solicitation. Those Points of Contact will be provided in the amendments expected to be released next week. 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] DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE ON NSPIRES Prior to the Government shutdown, a number of NASA documents that are relevant to proposers and reviewers were downloaded so that they could be cross-posted on NSPIRES in the event that the web sites that host them went down. We have just realized that we should have advertised the availability of these documents to people; apologies for the delay. The following documents are available: The Guidebook for Proposers is available on the NSPIRES home page at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/ via a link on "Site News". The SMD 2010 Science Plan and the NASA 2011 Strategic Plan are both available as downloads from the Mars 2020 Announcement of Opportunity page as "Other Documents". See the Program Library Strategic documents. The direct link to the Mars page is: http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/Mars2020 In addition, proposers interested in either the Earth Venture Instrument-2 (EVI-2) AO or the Mars 2020 AO are advised that the majority of the Program Library has been reproduced on NSPIRES, on those program's respective homepages. EVI-2: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method= init&solId={34880755-F100-9DC1-0C9F-C1F8EA697B65}&path=init Mars 2020: http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/Mars2020 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 VENUS TECHNOLOGY FORUM AT VEXAG MEETING #11 - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH This Forum will present the status and a coherent picture of specific technologies useful to potential Venus Missions and discuss where they could be in 5-10 years. These technology evaluations and subsequent discussions will allow the community to be better educated when discussing the VEXAG's Venus Exploration Goals, Objectives and Investigations and Roadmap documents the following day at the VEXAG meeting. A draft of the Venus Exploration Technology Plan will be presented. These questions will be addressed: * What science opportunities for both near-term (< 10 years) missions and longer-term (> 10 years) missions are enabled by existing technologies? How are these opportunities limited by existing technology? * What science goals are driving technology development? What technology synergies and crosscutting technologies have the potential for changing the way Venus science is accomplished? * How should we prioritize technology development? * What gaps in the technology developments are due to the lack of communication between scientists and technologists, hampering the achievement of science goals? * Are there gaps in funding for Venus-related instruments and technology? Instrument posters are encouraged for an evening session. 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 CALL FOR IMAGING OF CANDIDATE LANDING SITES FOR THE 2020 MARS ROVER MISSION In response to the recent release of the Mars 2020 mission Announcement of Opportunity, we are soliciting imaging targets for candidate landing sites for the Mars 2020 rover mission. Candidate landing sites should be proposed based on their potential to satisfy the objectives of the 2020 mission as detailed in the recent mission Science Definition Team (SDT) report (Mustard et al., 2013). This call relates to targets for new candidate landing sites as well as additional targets for candidate landing sites proposed to prior calls. Targets for sites satisfying the requirements will be provided to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and Odyssey missions for imaging. Persons wishing to propose a candidate site should complete the abstract template found on the website below, which provides further details on the science objectives of the 2020 mission, engineering constraints on landing sites, possible enhancements to EDL, planetary protection constraints, and the information needed to identify a landing site and define the requested images. Candidate landing sites should be submitted to both Matt Golombek (mgolombek@jpl.nasa.gov) and John Grant (grantj@si.edu) by November 15, 2013. For details see: http://marsnext.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm [Edited for length.] 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 - GRAIL RELEASE 3 The Planetary Data System (PDS) announces the third release of Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) data. This release includes: * LGRS RDR - Derived lunar gravitational field data from the GRAIL mission, along with SPICE geometry and navigation kernels created by the GRAIL Science Data System (SDS). The data were acquired during the primary mission phase, from 2012-03-01 through 2012-05-29. To access the above data, please visit: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/grail/ For information about this release, please visit: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20131011.html To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-Release.html All available PDS data may be downloaded from: 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 NEW VERSION OF THE AIDA DECONVOLUTION ALGORITHM An updated and more stable version of AIDA, named AIDA 1.3 has just been recently released. AIDA (Hom et al. JOSAA 24 1580-1600,2007) is a de novo implementation and extension of the MISTRAL myopic deconvolution method developed by Mugnier et al. (2004) (see J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 21:1841-1854). These deconvolution algorithms have been shown to yield object reconstructions with excellent edge preservation and photometric precision on images of planetary targets collected with Adaptive Optics systems and Hubble Space Telescope. AIDA is free and intended for further open source development (Python-based) - please help improve it; we welcome any feedback! https://code.google.com/p/aida-deconvolution/ Franck Marchis & Erik Hom 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 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. A sample research opportunity is: https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18115 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. 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 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 ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY - SESE EXPLORATION POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE The School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) at Arizona State University invites applications for the Exploration Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. This program provides opportunities for postdoctoral research emphasizing inter-disciplinary collaboration. Research areas within SESE encompass astronomy, cosmology, astrobiology, earth sciences, climate science, planetary sciences, exploration systems engineering, instrumentation for exploration, and science education. Applications must include a research proposal that has been discussed with prospective faculty mentors at ASU. Potential research topics span the full range of research interests of our faculty http://sese.asu.edu/focus_areas Preference will be given to proposals that include multiple focus areas within SESE, that forge new collaborations, and that bring new research expertise to SESE consistent with likely faculty hiring strategies over the next few years. Applications and separate reference letters are due by December 20, 2013 via email to exppd@asu.edu. A full description of the application process is available at: http://sese.asu.edu/opportunities We expect to award up to 3 fellowships. These 2-year appointments will typically start between July 1 and September 1, 2014. ASU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that actively seeks diversity among applicants and promotes a diverse workforce. 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 RESEARCH SCIENTIST POSITION(S) AT LPL Assistant, Associate, or Senior Research Scientist The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at The University of Arizona expects to fill up to 2 positions at the level of Assistant, Associate, or Senior Research Scientist. These ranks are equivalent to the corresponding professorial ranks, but without a commitment for state support or teaching responsibility. Research Scientists report to the director of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Salary and position title will be based on the qualifications of the selected candidate(s), who will be responsible for raising 100% of their salaries and research funds through their own extramural grants and contracts. To be considered for an appointment at the rank of Assistant Research Scientist, candidates must demonstrate solid scientific accomplishments and clear promise of continued achievement. Candidates for the position of Associate or Senior Research Scientist must demonstrate an internationally recognized record of distinguished scientific achievement and leadership in planetary and solar-system science. For full position details and to apply online, please see: http://www.hr.arizona.edu Reference job #53732. The University of Arizona is an EEO/AA Employer-M/W/D/V. 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 ESA MARS EXPRESS HRSC IMAGE RELEASE OF THIS MONTH: HEBES CHASMA http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/ Martian_scars 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 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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