PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 8, Number 48 (October 12, 2014) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Melissa Lane Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] Anticipated Major Changes Between the Draft and Final Discovery 2014 Announcements of Opportunity 2. [NASA] Draft Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) for SMD Science Education to be Released 3. [NASA] Two New Planetary Science Volunteer Reviewer Forms Posted 4. Postdoctoral Associate - Stony Brook University 5. CPS Postdoctoral Fellowships in Planetary/Exoplanet Science 6. Fully Funded PhD Position in Lunar Science - VU University Amsterdam 7. Invitation for PDS Reviewers for the OSIRIS-REx Mission 8. "WISE at 5" Conference 9. October 2014 MEPAG Newsletter Available 10. Planetary Geomorphology 'Image of the Month' 11. [NASA] PDS - Cassini Data Release 39 12. Large Martian Landforms Website 13. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 14. [NASA] EPOESS Cancelled 15. 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] ANTICIPATED MAJOR CHANGES BETWEEN THE DRAFT AND FINAL DISCOVERY 2014 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY On July 2, 2014, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) released a Draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for Discovery Program missions. SMD is now issuing information on anticipated major changes between the Draft and Final AOs. Clarification details can be found in the full announcement document posted at: http://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ Topics include: Inclusion of a Classified Heritage Appendix Use of the Advanced Multi-Mission Operations System Engineering Science Investigation on Entry, Descent, and Landing Clarification of the Exclusion of "Mission Operations" from the Pi-Managed Cost Cap Clarification of Rules Regarding Allocation of Returned Samples to Non-U.S. Partners Clarification of the Evaluation of the Risk of NASA-Developed Technologies Clarification of the Conjunction Assessment Risk Analysis Requirement Clarification of the Requirement for Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) of Flight Software Addition of a Requirement to Provide an Electronic Version of the Project Schedule NASA has not approved the issuance of the Final Discovery AO and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Michael New, NASA (202) 358-1766 michael.h.new@nasa.gov [Edited for length] 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] DRAFT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOTICE (CAN) FOR SMD SCIENCE EDUCATION TO BE RELEASED The NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) will release a draft Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) soliciting team-based proposals for science education by the end of October at: http://tinyurl.com/npm4tzy Comments on this draft text are due to the point of contact below no later than 30 days after release of the draft text. The final CAN will be issued early in calendar year 2015. The goal of the NASA SMD Science Education CAN is to meet the following NASA SMD Science Education Objectives: Enabling STEM education, improving U.S. science literacy; advancing National education goals; and leveraging science education through partnerships. NASA intends to select one or more focused, science discipline-based team(s). Neither the issuance of this Announcement nor the draft CAN obligates NASA to issue the final CAN or solicit proposals. The final CAN may contain provisions that differ from the draft CAN, in which case those provisions in the final CAN would take precedence. All comments and questions should be directed to the Point of Contact: Kristen Erickson, NASA HQ CANsci-ed@hq.nasa.gov [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 [NASA] TWO NEW PLANETARY SCIENCE VOLUNTEER REVIEWER FORMS POSTED The Planetary Science Division is seeking subject matter experts to serve as mail-in and/or panel meeting reviewers of ROSES 2014 proposals. We have posted two new volunteer reviewer forms for: C.12 Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations and C.20 Dawn at Ceres Guest Investigator Program. Forms are available at: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/volunteer-review-panels/ Choose a volunteer form and indicate the fields in which you consider yourself to be a subject matter expert by clicking the boxes. If your skills match our needs for this review we will contact you to discuss scheduling. 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 POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE - STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY Required: PhD, or the equivalent degree from a foreign university, in Geosciences, Planetary Sciences, Astronomy, Physics or related field. Applicant must have successfully defended their dissertation prior to the start date. Course work or research experience in remote sensing and/or geospatial analyses and planetary geology. Preferred: Research experience related to geology of Mars. Experience in processing and analyzing infrared spectral datasets from spacecraft. Experience with scientific programming in IDL, Python, Matlab, C+-based language, or similar. Effective writing and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated outstanding research ability, with an emphasis on critical thinking skills and high productivity. Duties: Conduct research in Planetary Science, with emphasis on quantitative studies of Martian surface and crustal materials through analysis of spacecraft data. Responsible for: Process, analyze and interpret visible and infrared images from Mars. Summarize findings in conference presentations and publications. Process, analyze and interpret supporting data sets and models such as elevation, geologic maps, and general circulation models. Read and synthesize information from relevant scientific literature to inform geologic interpretations of planetary data. This position is full-time. Application Procedure: For a complete description and instructions on "how to apply", please visit: http://www.stonybrook.edu/jobs/ and select the reference # WC-R-9213-14-09-S. AA/EOE 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 CPS POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN PLANETARY/EXOPLANET SCIENCE The University of Toronto Centre for Planetary Sciences (CPS) is a centre for the study of all planets. The CPS expects to offer several postdoctoral fellowships of up to three years. The starting date will be September 1, 2015. Salaries and funds for travel/research expenses will be competitive. A Ph.D. in any field of earth and planetary sciences or astrophysics is required. Fellows are expected to carry out original research in observational or theoretical planetary/ exoplanet science under the general supervision of the CPS-affiliated faculty at U of T. Electronic submissions only. Applicants are asked to submit a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests (3 pages) and arrange for three letters of recommendation (note that two different websites are used for the application and for the submission of reference letters). The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is December 1, 2014. The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. CPS Information Website: http://cps.utoronto.ca/ CPS Fellows Application Website: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/webapps/webforms/cps /postdoctoralfellows.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 FULLY FUNDED PHD POSITION IN LUNAR SCIENCE - VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM The Department of Earth Sciences at VU University Amsterdam, is offering a four-year PhD studentship focused on providing new constraints on the structure and evolution of the crust of the Moon. The studentship is funded by an NWO User Support Programme Space Research grant. You will collaborate with researchers at ESA’s ESTEC (European Space Research and Technology Centre) in Noordwijk (Netherlands) and at the IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe) in Paris. Candidates need to have completed a MSc degree in the field of planetary science, physics, geophysics, geology, or similar relevant field. Starting date is negotiable, preferably no later than January 2015. There is no constraint on citizenship; all applications are welcomed. More information can be found at: http://www.vu.nl/en/employment/vacancies/2014/072.asp Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Prof. dr. Wim van Westrenen and Dr. Jessica Flahaut for additional information (w.van.westrenen@vu.nl; j.d.flahaut@vu.nl). To apply, email Mrs. Fenny Bosse (f.bosse@vu.nl) with the subject "Vacancy #14320". Please provide a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of at least three references. Deadline for applications is October 30, 2014. [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 INVITATION FOR PDS REVIEWERS FOR THE OSIRIS-REX MISSION The PDS is inviting reviewers for the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) asteroid sample return mission. The PDS is establishing several review panels for the data products that will be produced during the OSIRIS- REx mission. We need reviewers for the optical cameras, spectrometers, and laser altimeter. Initial reviews will begin soon for product and pipeline design, with flight data reviews following after launch and before the spacecraft reaches the asteroid in 2019. This is a valuable opportunity for those interested in learning about and working with OSIRIS-Rex data products. For more information or to volunteer as a reviewer see: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/orexreviewers.html Contact: Carol Neese, neese@psi.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 "WISE AT 5" CONFERENCE We are pleased to announce a conference on "WISE at 5: Legacy and Prospects" to be held February 10-12, 2015, at the Beckman Institute Auditorium of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The conference will celebrate what has been done with WISE, what is being done with NEOWISE, and what will be done in the future. NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) was launched into orbit 5 years ago, and surveyed the entire mid-infrared sky in 2010. The satellite resumed surveying as NEOWISE in December 2013, and by the time of the conference will be on its fifth pass over the sky. Over 1,000 refereed papers based on the data have now been published, with results ranging from the discovery of the first Earth Trojan asteroid, to challenging the standard paradigm for quasar unification. For further information, see the conference website: http://wise5.ipac.caltech.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 OCTOBER 2014 MEPAG NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE Dear Members of the Mars Community, On behalf of Lisa Pratt (MEPAG Chair), Dave Beaty, Rich Zurek, and Serina Diniega of the Mars Program Science Office, the October 2014 edition of the Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter can be found at: http://mepag.jpl.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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY 'IMAGE OF THE MONTH' The October 'Image of the Month' is available on the IAG’s Planetary Geology web page at: http://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com This Month’s topic is on very recent debris flow activity on Mars. Dr. Andreas Johnsson, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Dr. M. Bourke 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] PDS - CASSINI DATA RELEASE 39 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Cassini data, Release 39, October to December 2013, for instruments: CDA CIRS INMS ISS MAG MIMI RADAR RPWS RSS SPICE UVIS VIMS HRD data for this period was announced in release 38. 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-20141003.html 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 LARGE MARTIAN LANDFORMS WEBSITE An extensive, organized collection of more than 1100 photos of Martian landforms is now available for education and research. The collection was created by Roger Weller at Cochise College in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Many of the photos not only highlight scientific details of the landforms but also include impressive, oblique scenic views. The website can be accessed at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/mars/list.htm or just Google: "cochise mars landforms". This collection of Martian photos is a portion of a much larger collection of geological information: http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/aawellerweb.htm 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/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/1u0LcSj 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 [NASA] EPOESS CANCELLATION SMD is cancelling the Opportunities in Education and Public Outreach for Earth and Space Sceinces (EPOESS). It plans to replace it with a Science Education Cooperative Agreement Notice that covers related subject matter. [Editor: See Item 1] Direct questions to Stephanie Stockman at stephanie.a.stockman@nasa.gov. 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS June 14-18, 2015 The Future and Science of Gemini Observatory http://www.gemini.edu/fsg15 Toronto, Canada August 17-21, 2015 Cosmic Dust https://www.cps-jp.org/~dust/Welcome.html Tokyo, Japan October 9-15, 2015 OHP 2015: Twenty Years of Giant Exoplanets http://ohp2015.sciencesconf.org Saint Michelel'Observatoire, France [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which you think 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. Go to * http://planetarynews.org/submission.html for complete submission * directions. * * PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute * (http://www.psi.edu) using no NASA funds. All editorial work is * volunteer. ***********************************************************************