PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 10, Number 35 (August 21, 2016) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Karen Stockstill-Cahill, Susan Benecchi Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. New Horizons Kuiper Belt Extended Mission Science Planning Opportunity 2. [NASA] Announcement of Upcoming Asteroid Redirect Mission Opportunities 3. LEAG Annual Meeting 2016 Abstract Deadline is 25 August 2016 4. Mars Plasma Physicist Sought 5. Geologic Mapping Subcommittee Seeking Student Member 6. [NASA] New Program: Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies 7. PDS - Dawn VIR Vesta and Ceres Data Release 8. MESSENGER MACSC Correction 9. First Announcement of Astrobiology 2017 10. 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 NEW HORIZONS KUIPER BELT EXTENDED MISSION SCIENCE PLANNING OPPORTUNITY The centerpiece of the proposed New Horizons Kuiper Belt Extended Mission (NH-KEM) is the very close flyby of the 20-40 km wide KBO 2014 MU69 on 1 January 2019. NH-KEM will also observe ~20 other KBOs at phase angles and/or at resolutions not otherwise possible, producing a unique database of KBO phase curves, satellite searches, and ring searches. On July 1 NASA approved the NH-KEM, which included plans to reach out to the planetary community for ideas to optimize the scientific return. The NH Project is holding two KEM WebEx workshops, one from 1-3 pm EDT on Sep 13 and one from 1-4 pm EDT on Oct 10, to discuss potential community involvement in the NH-KEM. If you're interested in participating in these workshops, please send an email ASAP to the NH Project Scientist, Hal Weaver (hal.weaver@jhuapl.edu). He will then provide you with further details about these workshops. 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] ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSION OPPORTUNITIES NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission Umbrella for Partnerships (ARM-UP) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) will seek proposals in research areas including partner-provided investigations through systems or payloads to be hosted on the robotic segment of the ARM; collaboration through the ARM Investigation Team to support definition of additional mission investigations; studies to define mission partnership opportunities toward NASA's planned crewed mission to the multi-ton asteroid boulder; and opportunities for access and experimentation at the asteroid boulder after the crewed mission. The full BAA Solicitation, with two appendices, is expected to be issued in early September. The ARM-UP BAA will remain open until August 2018, with additional opportunities announced as appendices with their own applicable requirements and milestones. The first two appendices issued under the omnibus solicitation will be released at the same time as the umbrella BAA. Synopses of the appendices are available on FedBizOpps at: Appendix A (NNH16ZCQ002K-HP), Hosted Payloads on Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id =11eaef020c80babcd7e8861a60803b22 Appendix B (NNH16ZCQ002K-ITP1), ARM Investigation Team Phase 1: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id =31e28662756ebb8f2326fdc9fde50178 NASA plans to host a virtual industry forum Sept. 14, 2016 to provide more information. Go to the ARM and NSPIRES web pages. 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 LEAG ANNUAL MEETING 2016 ABSTRACT DEADLINE IS 25 AUGUST 2016 The annual meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/) will be held 1-3 November 2016 at USRA HQ in Maryland. The deadline for abstract submission and Early Career Travel Support is 25 August 2016. We are requesting abstracts for oral and poster presentations on the topics of: Commercial Space Opportunities - Impact on Lunar Science and Exploration New Views of the Lunar Regolith New Lunar Mission Concepts Lunar Capabilities Roadmap Building a Moon Village Full details regarding the questions posed for these topics and abstract submission, as well as registration and accommodation can be found at: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/leag2016/ 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 MARS PLASMA PHYSICIST SOUGHT The University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy is seeking a plasma physicist to conduct research on the Martian ionosphere and its interaction with the solar wind using the ionospheric radar (code name MARSIS) on the Mars Express spacecraft. The primary emphasis of this research is to carry out collaborative investigations with the MAVEN spacecraft which is also conducting ionospheric and solar wind interaction studies in orbit around Mars. For a complete job description and to apply go to: http://jobs.uiowa.edu/ Refer to requisition #69588. 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 GEOLOGIC MAPPING SUBCOMMITTEE SEEKING STUDENT MEMBER The Geologic Mapping Subcommittee (GEMS) of the Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team (MAPSIT) is seeking a Student Member to join the committee, which advises NASA on issues related to the geological mapping of planetary surfaces. We are seeking either a current Ph.D. graduate student working a geological map for eventual publication by the USGS, or a recent Ph.D. graduate (within one year of degree attainment) working a a geological map. To apply, we request a CV and answers to these questions: a) what is your experience in planetary geologic mapping and what role in your graduate research will/does planetary geologic mapping play? b) are you able to attend the annual meeting of planetary geologic mappers (June) and LPSC in the next 2-3 years? c) why would you like to serve on GEMS? Please send your application to the GEMS Chair, Dr. David A. Williams at David.Williams@asu.edu by September 30, 2016. 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] NEW PROGRAM: PLANETARY SCIENCE DEEP SPACE SMALLSAT STUDIES This program element supports the study of spaceflight mission concepts that can be accomplished using small spacecraft, including CubeSats. NASA's Planetary Science Program is considering including small secondary payloads on every future planetary science launch. As such, studies performed under this program element will provide valuable information to assist future Announcement of Opportunity planning and NASA's development of small spacecraft technologies relevant to deep space science investigations. In order to advance the objectives outlined in the Science Plan, proposed investigations may target any body in the Solar System, including near Earth objects (NEO's), except for the Earth and Sun. Investigations of extra-solar planets are not included in this program element. Notices of Intent are due September 30, 2016 and proposals are due November 18, 2016. Go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Questions concerning this program element may be directed to Carolyn Mercer at cmercer@nasa.gov. [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 PDS - DAWN VIR VESTA AND CERES DATA RELEASE The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce the availability of the following Dawn Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) Vesta and Ceres data sets. Note that Ceres Approach and RC3 data have been previously released. - Ceres L1a VIS and IR Survey and HAMO - Ceres L1b IR Survey and HAMO - Updated Vesta L1a IR and VIS (minor updates), all Vesta phases - Updated Vesta L1b IR (updated calibration), all Vesta phases - Vesta global mosaics To access the above data please visit the following links: VIR Vesta: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/resource/dwnvvir.html VIR Ceres: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/resource/dwncvir.html For access to all Dawn data in PDS: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/archive/dawn.html 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 MESSENGER MASCS CORRECTION The MESSENGER MASCS science team has issued a report concerning an error in the data processing pipeline for MASCS VIRS photometrically corrected data. The report, titled "Photometric Normalization Error in MASCS Pipeline: Effects and Remediation," has been added to the MASCS archives in the Planetary Data System and is available from the PDS Geosciences Node at: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/messenger/mascs.htm 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 FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF ASTROBIOLOGY 2017 November 26 - December 1, 2017 Coyhaique, Chile http://www.astrobiology2017.org/ Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary subject at the frontier of science. Current research in astrobiology draws researchers from the fields of astronomy, space science, chemistry, biology, geology, humanities, sociology and ethical issues. Many astronomers in the subfields of star formation, solar system studies, astrochemistry and others, tend to gather around Astrobiology. Science goals of new generation telescopes such as ALMA, SKA, TMT, GMT, E-ELT include search for prebiotic molecules, and detection of bio-signatures in the ever growing sample of extrasolar planets, many of which reside in the habitable zones. Even dedicated flagship space missions have been commissioned, such as the wildly successful Kepler mission, which alone has discovered about 2,000 extrasolar planets, or the soon to be launched TESS and CHEOPS missions. The IAU Commission F.3 (Astrobiology) will meet again in the beautiful town, Coyhaique, Chile in November, 2017. This key meeting fosters interdisciplinary collaborations for the advancement of Astrobiology, welcoming researchers from disciplines as diverse as astrophysics, biology, geology, humanities, and sociology, among others. Those who are interested in Astrobiology 2017 are kindly requested to keep your schedule! Masatoshi Ohishi Vice-President, IAU Commission F.3 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 MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS November 29-December 2, 2016 Hayabusa 2016 http://hayabusaao.isas.jaxa.jp/symposium/2016/index.html Tokyo, Japan November 29-December 2, 2016 The Seventh Symposium on Polar Science http://www.nipr.ac.jp/symposium2016/ Tokyo, Japan February 27-28, 2017 Workshop on Chondrules and the Protoplanetary Disk http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/chondrules2017/ London, United Kingdom March 20-24, 2017 Astrochemistry VII - Through the Cosmos from Galaxies to Planets https://iaus332.physics.unsw.edu.au Purto Varas, Chile May 15-17, 2017 Impacts in Planetary Systems http://www.astro.lu.se/impact2017/ Lund, Sweden September 25-27, 2017 Planet Formation and Evolution 2017 http://www.astro.uni-jena.de/~pfe2017 Jena, Germany November 26-December 1, 2017 Astrobiology 2017 http://www.astrobiology2017.org Coyhaique, Chile [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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