PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 8, Number 16 (April 6, 2014) 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. 6th Alfven Conference: Plasma Interactions with Solar System Objects Anticipating the Rosetta, Maven and Mars Orbiter Missions 2. First Landing Site Workshop for the 2020 Rover Mission to Mars 3. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 4. [NASA] PDS - GRAIL Release 4 5. [NASA] Europa Mission Community Announcement 6. [NASA] Lunar Data Analysis Program 7. [NASA] Discovery AO Technology Workshop 8. [NASA] Job Opportunity: Chief Exploration Scientist at NASA HQ 9. [NASA] PDS - Odyssey Data Release 47 10. EPSC Session MT13: Planetary Science with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) 11. JWST SSWG White Paper: Solar System Observations with JWST 12. [NASA] PDS - Cassini Data Release 37 13. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 14. Larry Soderblom's 70th Birthday 15. [NASA] ROSES Volunteer Reviewer Page Established 16. Graduate Student Research Assistant Positions at Hampton University 17. 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 6TH ALFVEN CONFERENCE: PLASMA INTERACTIONS WITH SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS ANTICIPATING THE ROSETTA, MAVEN and MARS ORBITER MISSIONS Abstract submission and registration is open. Conference website: http://bit.ly/alfven-2014 Abstract submission: http://bit.ly/alfven-abstract Online registration: http://bit.ly/alfven-registration Abstract deadline: 7 May Early registration deadline: 7 May Conference dates: 7-11 July 2014 Location: University College London (UCL), UK Main topics: Comets, Mars, Venus, outer planet moons and Earth's Moon - especially common processes with comets, and reviewing current knowledge prior to the arrival of the new missions. Please Note: The Tour de France 2014 will take place in London on 7 July. We therefore advise booking accommodation early. Special early registration rates, and student and early career scientist registration rates are available - details on website. Confirmed invited speakers: David Andrews, Stas Barabash, Dave Brain, Tom Cravens, Konrad Dennerl, Wing Ip, Bruce Jakosky, Xianzhe Jia, Geraint Jones, Esa Kallio, Christoph Koenders, Rickard Lundin, Christian Mazelle, Chris Paranicas, Martin Rubin, Yoshifumi Saito, Joachim Saur, Jim Slavin, Matt Taylor, Oleg Vaisberg and Olivier Witasse. Regards, Andrew Coates (convener) and Anne Wellbrock (LOC co-chair), on behalf of the LOC and SOC 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 FIRST LANDING SITE WORKSHOP FOR THE 2020 ROVER MISSION TO MARS This is a reminder that the First Landing Site Workshop for the 2020 rover mission to Mars will be held May 14-16, 2014. The workshop will be held at the Crystal City Marriott, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, in Arlington, VA (703-413-5500) and will follow the MEPAG meeting scheduled for the same venue. Persons wishing to participate should communicate with both Matt Golombek (mgolombek@jpl.nasa.gov) and John Grant (grantj@si.edu). [The abstract deadline was April 4.] Most of the workshop will be devoted to: (1) the overall types of sites for Mars 2020 based on associated scientific and programmatic rationale and suitability for safe landing and roving; and (2) individual landing sites on Mars and their scientific merit and safety. The complete call for the workshop and more information on science objectives and preliminary engineering requirements are at: http://marsnext.jpl.nasa.gov/. To make a reservation at the Crystal City Marriott, call (800) 228.9290, block MEPAG Face to Face or mffmffa, or reserve online at: http://www.marriott.com/meeting-event-hotels/group-corporate-travel /groupCorp.mi?resLinkData=MEPAG%20Face%20to%20Face^wascc%60mffmffa %60224%60USD%60false%605/12/14%605/16/14%604/21/14&app=resvlink &stop_mobi=yes [Edited for length] 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The April 'Image of the Month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com/ This month's topic is on Ancient Lake Deposits on Mars. Post is contributed by Tim Goudge, Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI Mary Bourke IAG Working Group on Planetary Geomorphology 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 - GRAIL RELEASE 4 The Planetary Data System (PDS) announces the fourth release of 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. This release comprises data from both the primary and extended mission phases and includes version 4 of LGRS EDR and CDR data, along with revisions to some RSS EDR data. It is also the first release of RSS EDR data from all other mission phases. New data products include wheel speed LGRS EDR and CDR products (WRS00, WRS1A, and WRS1B), as well as biased tracking data message standard (BTM) and biased open loop file (BOF) RSS EDR products. 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-20140331.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 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] EUROPA MISSION COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT SMD intends to release a series of announcements as part of continuing efforts to assess the scientific merits and technical feasibility of Europa mission concepts that cost-effectively implement the science objectives of the latest Planetary Science Decadal Survey. In April 2014 SMD will release a Request for Information (RFI) for descriptions of mission concepts, followed by a SALMON-2 Program Element Appendix (PEA) Europa instrument science investigations, and to solicit proposals for instrument investigations conducted by a Principal Investigator (PI) as part of a robotic mission to explore Europa. The notional schedule appears below, the full text of the announcement can be found on NSPIRES at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method =init&solId={FD4D190D-430C-0088-8BAF-03E38D2DEFDE}&path=open and in the future further information will be posted on the Europa Program Acquisition Page at: http://soma.larc.nasa.gov/europa/ Release of RFI: Late April 2014 (target) Release of PEA Community Announcement: Late April 2014 (target) Release of final PEA: July 2014 (target) PEA Preproposal conference: ~3 weeks after final PEA release PEA Proposals due: 90 days after PEA release Selection for competitive Phase A studies: April 2015 (target) Concept study reports due: December 2015 (target) Down-selection: April 2016 (target) 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] LUNAR DATA ANALYSIS PROGRAM Final text for the Lunar Data Analysis Program is now released. The Lunar Data Analysis Program (LDAP) program funds research on the analysis of recent lunar missions in order to enhance their scientific return. LDAP broadens scientific participation in the analysis of mission data sets and funds high-priority areas of research that support planning for future lunar missions. The final text replaces the prior placeholder text in its entirety. Proposals to this program will be taken by a two-step process, in which the Notice of Intent is replaced by a required Step-1 proposal submitted by an organization Authorized Organizational Representative. Only proposers who submit a Step-1 proposal are eligible to submit a Step-2 (full) proposal. See Section 2.3 for details. Step-1 proposals are due August 29, 2014, and Step-2 proposals are due October 24, 2014. Questions concerning LDAP may be addressed to: Robert A. Fogel 202-358-2289 rfogel@nasa.gov 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] DISCOVERY AO TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP Date/Time: April 9, 2014 from 8:30AM to 6:30PM Location: One Washington Circle Hotel, 1 Washington Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20037 - Phone 202-872-1680 The goal of this event is to educate the potential proposing community on NASA funded technologies and instruments. All expenses and arrangements for attending this meeting are the responsibility of the attendees and are not allowable as direct cost under a Federal Government award. Government employees may attend and be authorized travel and associated cost as matter of official business. Continental Breakfast will be served. 1:30PM - 6:30PM is an opportunity for your organization to have one-on-one time with the technology developers. Please identify with which developers you would like to meet per the agenda that will appear at: http://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ RSVP to Terri Carta at 202-358-2224 (original date April 3). More information will be available at: http://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ Lenard A. Dudzinski Planetary Science Division Chief Technologist Science Mission Directorate Michael H. New Discovery Program Lead Scientist [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] JOB OPPORTUNITY: CHIEF EXPLORATION SCIENTIST AT NASA HQ NASA Headquarters has just posted a notice for the job of Chief Exploration Scientist in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD). This is the position that was held by Mike Wargo until his untimely death in August 2013. For more details about the position, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/366013300 Open Period: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 to Tuesday, April 15, 2014 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] PDS - ODYSSEY DATA RELEASE 47 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Odyssey Data, Release 47, for the following instruments: GRS THEMIS Radio Science (Releases 139-141) SPICE The gamma sensor component of the GRS instrument suite no longer returns data. The HEND and neutron spectrometer components continue to operate. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20140401.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 found at: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: http://pds.nasa.gov/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 EPSC SESSION MT13: PLANETARY SCIENCE WITH THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE (JWST) European Planetary Science Congress 2014 (September 7-12) will have a special session (MT13) on Planetary Science with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Convener: P. Ferruit Scheduled for launch in October 2018, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be one of the major space observatories of the next decade. JWST and its instrument suite will allow planetary scientists and astronomers to perform imaging and spectroscopy over the 0.6 to 28 micron range with unprecedented sensitivity. JWST is designed to observe solar system objects beyond earth orbit having apparent rates of motion up to 30 milliarcseconds/second, i.e. planets, satellites, asteroids, trans-neptunian objects and comets. JWST will also allow to look beyond our solar system and to study exo-planets. This session will be dedicated to presentations of planetary science (both in our solar system and in other stellar system) that could be conducted with JWST. Abstracts are due May 6, 2014. http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2014/session/16816 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 JWST SSWG WHITE PAPER: SOLAR SYSTEM OBSERVATIONS WITH JWST The JWST Solar System Working Group has released "Solar System Observations with JWST" by Norwood et al. Abstract: The James Webb Space Telescope will enable a wealth of new scientific investigations in the near- and mid-infrared, with sensitivity and spatial/spectral resolution greatly surpassing its predecessors. In this paper, we focus upon Solar System science facilitated by JWST, discussing the most current information available concerning JWST instrument properties and observing techniques relevant to planetary science. We also present numerous example observing scenarios for a wide variety of Solar System targets to illustrate the potential of JWST science to the Solar System community. This paper updates and supersedes the Solar System white paper published by the JWST Project in 2010 (Lunine et al., 2010). It is based both on that paper and on a workshop held at the annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences in Reno, NV in 2012. Please find the Solar System White Paper at: http://arxiv.org/abs/1403.6845 or http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/doc-archive/white-papers A supporting white paper, "Observing Planetary Rings with JWST: Science Justification and Observation Requirements" by Tiscareno et al. is also now available at: http://arxiv.org/abs/1403.6849 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 [NASA] PDS - CASSINI DATA RELEASE 37 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Cassini data, Release 37, April to June 2013, for instruments: CIRS HRD INMS ISS MAG MIMI RADAR RPWS RSS SPICE VIMS CDA and UVIS data will soon be available. Please note that while the data products from this release are available online now through the links below, they may not be immediately accessible through PDS web services such as the Planetary Image Data Atlas. Large data sets may take as long as a few days beyond the formal release date to be incorporated into these services. Check each service's web site to see the status of the latest release. To access the above data, please visit: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20140402.html 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 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 one of the research opportunities in planetary science is: https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18314 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/1fuCwZG For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions: nasapostdoc@orau.org 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 LARRY SODERBLOM'S 70TH BIRTHDAY Dear Friends. We invite you to a celebration in honor of Larry Soderblom's 70th birthday, to occur Sunday, July 20th at the Arizona Snowbowl, in Flagstaff, AZ. We are planning a one-day symposium highlighting Larry's involvement in our exploration of the Solar System and the history of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, followed by an evening of dining, chatting, and roasting. We anticipate that the day's food will cost on order of $50 per person. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at: http://las70.splashthat.com Sincerely, The Local Roasting Committee (Bob B., Lisa G., Ken H., Torrence J., Randy K., Alfred M., Jason S., Joe V.) 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 [NASA] ROSES VOLUNTEER REVIEWER PAGE ESTABLISHED To increase the pool of un-conflicted reviewers we are seeking subject matter experts to serve as mail-in reviewers of proposals and/or in-person reviewers to engage in discussions at a face-to-face panel meeting. New researchers (including post doctoral fellows) are welcome to apply as they provide fresh insight from people close to the most current research. Just follow the links below to the volunteer review forms and indicate the fields in which you consider yourself to be a subject matter expert and click the boxes. If your skills match our needs for this review NASA will contact you to discuss scheduling. We are currently seeking reviewers for: ROSES 2014 Heliophysics programs ROSES 2014 E.3, The Exoplanet Research Program ROSES 2014 C.2 Emerging Worlds Go to: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/volunteer-review-panels/ 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS AT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY Recent funding development enabled multiple graduate research assistant position openings at Hampton University's Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. We seek to fill these openings for Fall 2014. The department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Atmospheric Sciences, and Planetary Science. Currently available funding supports modeling and space-based remote sensing observation of Earth and other planets. Visit our website at: http://cas.hamptonu.edu/ and send inquiries to kunio.sayanagi "at" hamptonu.edu. Start your application process here: http://www.hamptonu.edu/apply/gradadmission.cfm 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html April 10-11, 2014 NASA Community Workshop on the Global Exploration Roadmap http://geocalendar.agu.org/meeting/nasa-community-workshop-on-the -global-exploration-roadmap/ Laurel, MD September 29 - October 3, 2014 Dynamical Astronomy in Latin-America http://adela2014.das.uchile.cl Santiago, Chile October 7-10, 2014 12th European VLBI Network Symposium and Users Meeting http://evn2014.oa-cagliari.inaf.it/EVN2014/ Cagliari, Italy November 18-21, 2014 Star-Planet Interactions and the Habitable Zone http://irfu.cea.fr/habitability/ Saclay, France February 23-27, 2015 Physics of Exoplanets: From Earth-sized to Mini-Neptunes http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/activities/dbdetails?acro=EVOPLANETS-C15 Goleta, CA [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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