PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 11, Number 42 (October 8, 2017) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Elisabeth Adams, Karen Stockstill-Cahill Email: pen_editor@psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Environments of Terrestrial Planets Under the Young Sun: Seeds of Biomolecules 2. [NASA] PDS - Odyssey Data Release 61 3. [NASA] PDS - Cassini Data Release 51 4. EUCOP 2018 Session: The Furthest Frontier - Planetary Permafrost 5. PhD Position in Geology/Planetary Science at UCLA 6. DPS Event: LSST and the Solar System Workshop 7. DPS Event: Future Pluto and Kuiper Belt Missions Workshop 8. DPS Event: The Next Steps in Ice Giant Exploration 9. DPS Event: Carbonaceous Asteroids - Connections Between Surfaces and Interiors 10. Postdoc Positions in Cometary Science at MPS, Germany 11. SSERVI AGU Special Paper Collection 12. Potential Concepts for the Next Discovery AO 13. MEPAG Meeting 35 Summary and Presentations now available 14. Assistant Professor, Exoplanetary Atmospheric Theorist, UCF 15. Assistant or Associate Professor, Planetary Science Instrumentalist, UCF 16. PhD Position in Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden 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 ENVIRONMENTS OF TERRESTRIAL PLANETS UNDER THE YOUNG SUN: SEEDS OF BIOMOLECULES Symposium will be held on April 9-13, 2017, hosted by the Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA. This symposium is a major international interdisciplinary conference in the emerging area of astrobiology covering astrophysical, physico-chemical, atmospheric and geological aspects of environments of early terrestrial planets with a focus on the impacts of the young Sun's space weather on the precursors of life. The understanding of impacts of external factors on prebiotic chemistry including UV and particle fluxes from the young Sun (and other active stars) along with the physio-chemical evolution of planetary atmospheres under the influence of their volcanic and tectonic activity will sharpen our definition of habitability on early terrestrial and terrestrial-type exoplanets. It will also help to specify environmental constraints for prebiotic atmospheric chemistry experiments that will better specify the most plausible pathways to the origin of life. This is only possible by forming a key linkage between astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary scientists, Earth science and the prebiotic chemistry/origin of life community. Please contact Dr. Vladimir Airapetian at vladimir.airapetian@nasa.gov for further details. 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] PDS - ODYSSEY DATA RELEASE 61 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Odyssey Data, Release 61, for the following instruments: GRS THEMIS RADIO SCIENCE (Releases 180-182) 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: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20171002.shtml 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 - CASSINI DATA RELEASE 51 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Cassini data, Release 51, October to December 2016, for instruments: CDA CIRS INMS ISS MAG MIMI RADAR RPWS RSS SPICE UVIS VIMS HRD's previous release covers this time period. 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: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20171005.shtml 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 EUCOP 2018 SESSION: THE FURTHEST FRONTIER - PLANETARY PERMAFROST We would like to advertise our planetary session #5 "The Furthest Frontier - Planetary Permafrost" at EUCOP 2018: 5th European Conference on Permafrost in Chamonix, France, 22 Jun-1 Jul 2018. This session aims to give up-to-date insights into the study of ice, permafrost and resulting landforms on planetary surfaces. A special emphasis will be given to studies involving analogous cold-climate environments on Earth. Deadline for abstract submission is on 15th November 2017 and the template plus instructions can be found at: https://eucop2018.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/12 Conveners: Antoine Sejourne, Universite Paris Sud, GEOPS, France antoine.sejourne@u-psud.fr Susan Conway, Universite Nantes, LPGN, France susan.conway@univ-nantes.fr Ernst Hauber, Institute of Planetary Research, DLR, Berlin, Germany ernst.hauber@dlr.de 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 PHD POSITION IN GEOLOGY/PLANETARY SCIENCE AT UCLA PhD positions in sedimentology and planetary science at UCLA - Fall 2018 Multiple funded PhD positions are available in the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences at UCLA working with Mackenzie Day on topics related to aeolian geomorphology, sedimentology, and planetary surface processes. Project opportunities are widely ranging and include involvement in wind tunnel experiments, field work, and remote sensing of Mars and other planetary bodies. The expected start date is Fall 2018. Students will engage in highly collaborative research with institutions around the country. Applicants are expected to have a strong background in geology and general sciences. Those with a strong background in physics or computer science are particularly encouraged. Interested candidates should contact Mackenzie Day at daym@uw.edu for more information and to discuss potential research projects. Applications should ultimately be submitted at: http://epss.ucla.edu/graduate/admissions/ 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 DPS EVENT: LSST AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM WORKSHOP Thursday October 19 2017, 4:30-6:30 pm, 49th DPS meeting, Cascade E (Utah Valley Convention Center) This workshop serves as the annual meeting of the Large Synoptic Sky Survey Telescope (LSST) Solar System Science Collaboration (SSSC) and is open to all DPS attendees. We will provide a brief status of LSST with respect to Solar System science and provide updates on current and future activities within the SSSC. The presentation schedule is as follows: - LSST & Solar System Science Collaboration (SSSC) Update: Where is the SSSC Headed in 2018? - Meg Schwamb (Gemini Observatory) & David Trilling (NAU) - The LSST Observing Strategy: Upcoming Opsim Simulations, Small Body Metrics, and White Papers - Lynne Jones (University of Washington/LSST) - LSST Solar System Data Products and Moving Object Processing System (MOPS) Status - Mario Juric (University of Washington/LSST) - The Minor Planet Center: Status and Plans - Matt Holman (Harvard CfA/MPC) - Community Feedback on the Planned LSST Solar System Database Schema Contact organizers Meg Schwamb (mschwamb.astro@gmail.com) and David Trilling (David.Trilling@nau.edu) with any questions. 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 DPS EVENT: FUTURE PLUTO AND KUIPER BELT MISSIONS WORKSHOP Sunday, 3:30 pm at DPS Provo, Battle Creek Room Interested DPS members please join us Sunday, October 15th, from 3:30-5:30 pm for a focused workshop on future missions to the Kuiper Belt. The workshop will take place in the Battle Creek room of the Utah Valley Convention Center (DPS conference venue). No pre-registration required. The Kuiper Belt (KB) is a scientific treasure trove consisting of comets, planetesimals, and small planets like Pluto. Since its discovery in the early 1990s, the KB has yielded fundamental insights into planetary accretion, the migration of planets, and the population structure of our solar system-including the discovery that dwarf planets like Pluto are common there. In this workshop we will review the scientific case to return to Pluto with an orbiter, as well as the scientific case to explore other small KB planets and smaller bodies with flybys or orbiters. We will go beyond this to discuss possible mission payloads. Finally, we will solicit community and individual scientist interest in future studies leading to the next Decadal Survey. 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 DPS EVENT: THE NEXT STEPS IN ICE GIANT EXPLORATION Time: Monday, 16 October 2017, 12:00 - 13:15 Location: "Cascade C" room of the Convention Center Organizers: Mark Hofstadter, Amy Simon, and Zibi Turtle This workshop is an opportunity for interested members of the community to discuss the future of ice giant exploration. The discussion, moderated by members of the science team for the recently completed Ice Giant mission study: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/icegiants/mission_study will address the following topics: * Research within the R&A programs, * Juno and Cassini results that inform ice giant science and missions, * The role of Flagship, New Frontiers, and Discovery missions in ice giant exploration, * Atmospheric probes, * Instrumentation and technology development for ice giant exploration. For more information, contact Mark.Hofstadter@jpl.nasa.gov 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 DPS EVENT: CARBONACEOUS ASTEROIDS - CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SURFACES AND INTERIORS Time: 10/18/2017 from 12pm to 1pm. Location: Battle Creek - Provo Utah Convention Center Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining company, is developing methodology to quantify water abundance on volatile-rich C-complex NEAs in order to perform resource assessment. While spectral measurements in the visible to near-infrared regions can reveal a NEA's hydration state, these reflectance measurements are only sensitive to the optical surface. Additionally, spectral measurements of surface hydration (and spectral measurements in general) can be affected by poorly understood processes that may hinder accurate resource assessment. As such, a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms affecting asteroid surfaces is required. The goal of this workshop is to bring together experts from across multiple disciplines to facilitate a broad technical discussion around this complex challenge. Topics of interest for discussion include but are not limited to space weathering, thermal processing of asteroid surface material, carbonaceous chondrite mineralogy, regolith formation and sorting, solar wind implantation of H, and any other processes that may affect the quantification of water on asteroids. Please direct questions to the organizer: Akbar Whizin Planetary Resources, Inc. awhizin@planetaryresources.com 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 POSTDOC POSITIONS IN COMETARY SCIENCE AT MPS, GERMANY The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Gottingen, Germany, invites applications for postdoc positions in the field of cometary science. Two positions will be in the working group on the role of comets in the formation of the planetary system. The following research topics - in order of their priority - are identified for collaboration in the working group: - The growth of cometary nuclei - The size and mass distribution of cometary dust and solids - The Carbon-chain material in cometary nuclei - The elemental composition of cometary material Details of the positions and the application are found at: http://www.mps.mpg.de/5074883/job_full_offer_11530192?c=2169 One position will be in a newly forming group on activity in comets and asteroids, funded by an ERC Starting Grant. The position will focus on one of the following topics: - Physical, thermal, and optical properties of cometary material - Activity in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from a Rosetta multi-instrument perspective - Activity in asteroids Details of the position and the application are found at: http://www.mps.mpg.de/5066843/job_full_offer_11485198?c=2169 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 SSERVI AGU SPECIAL PAPER COLLECTION The AGU family of journals is accepting papers for a special collection inspired by the goals of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). Please consider submitting a paper. The submission deadline is January 31, 2018. This special collection, sponsored by SSERVI, invites papers focusing on the science and exploration of the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and the moons of Mars. We invite contributions covering topics including, but not limited to, geologic investigations, dust/exosphere/plasma environments, surface remote sensing studies, field analog studies, laboratory analyses, and geophysical modeling relevant to the bodies of interest. In addition, we invite contributions focusing on efforts to prepare for future human exploration of these bodies. Special collection submissions can be submitted to JGR-Planets, JGR-Space Physics, Earth and Space Science, or GeoHealth. Potential authors do not need to be members of a SSERVI team to submit a paper to this special collection. For additional information, please contact: jgr-planets@agu.org. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 POTENTIAL CONCEPTS FOR THE NEXT DISCOVERY AO NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ( GSFC) is interested in hearing from potential principal investigators and science teams with ideas for the next Discovery opportunity and to explore potential collaboration with GSFC. The AO is expected in towards the end of 2018. Please contact Michael Amato, in person or via email, Michael.Amato@nasa.gov. 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 MEPAG MEETING 35 SUMMARY AND PRESENTATIONS NOW AVAILABLE The virtual 35th meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) was held on Monday, September 25th, 2017, 10:00am-1:00pm. Thank you to all who participated, especially the speakers who shared their NASA-selected PSDS3 SmallSat Study concepts with the community. The summary report and presentations from MEPAG Meeting 35 are now available at the meeting website: https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/meetings.cfm?expand=m35 Please also note the request for community feedback regarding the proposal for a 1-day workshop associated with the next face-to-face MEPAG meeting, to be sent to mepagmeetingqs@jpl.nasa.gov by November 15, 2017. 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EXOPLANETARY ATMOSPHERIC THEORIST, UCF The Planetary Sciences Group in the University of Central Florida's Department of Physics invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professorship, anticipated to start in August 2018. We seek candidates in exoplanet atmospheric theory who can add to or complement ongoing research in exoplanet characterization. The successful applicant is expected to establish an independent, internationally competitive, externally funded research program and demonstrate excellence and innovation in graduate and undergraduate education. Information about the UCF planetary group: http://planets.ucf.edu which is housed in Physics and the Florida Space Institute: http://fsi.ucf.edu This group is over 40 researchers, including 8 (soon to be 10) professors, 2 lecturers, 8 soft-money researchers, 15 PhD students, postdocs, and undergraduate researchers. Research ranges from exoplanets to surfaces to space medicine. See details and application procedures at: https://www.jobswithucf.com/postings/51176 Application review will begin November 15, 2017. New application review will continue until the position is filled. Please upload all materials simultaneously; one submission is allowed. Updates to complete applications may be emailed. Contact: Joseph Harrington atmos-queries@physics.ucf.edu As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 ASSISTANT OR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PLANETARY SCIENCE INSTRUMENTALIST, UCF The Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida invites applications for a tenure-track assistant or tenured associate professorship, anticipated to start in August 2018. We seek candidates with expertise in space instrumentation for planetary missions that would complement current research. The successful applicant is expected to establish an independent, internationally competitive, externally funded research program and have a strong commitment to excellence and innovation in graduate and undergraduate education. Information about the UCF planetary group: http://planets.ucf.edu which is housed in Physics and the Florida Space Institute: http://fsi.ucf.edu This group has over 40 researchers, including 8 (soon to be 10) professors, 2 lecturers, 8 soft-money researchers, 15 PhD students, postdocs, and undergraduate researchers. Research ranges from planetesimal formation to icy satellites to in-situ resource utilization. See details and application procedures at: https://www.jobswithucf.com/postings/51177 Application review will begin November 15, 2017. New application review will continue until the position is filled. Please upload all materials simultaneously; one submission is allowed. Updates to complete applications may be emailed. Contact: Joshua Colwell As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 PHD POSITION IN SPACE PHYSICS, UPPSALS, SWEDEN Applications are invited for a PhD student position to study the plasma environment of Mars. Big questions remain regarding the topic - did ancient Mars lose most of its primordial atmosphere in to space, and how can we address this using current day measurements? Specifically, the aim of the project is to develop detailed understanding of electrodynamic processes at the day-night boundary, where steep gradients in plasma density and temperature are found. Intense, varied crustal magnetic fields, along with dynamic fields induced by the solar wind flowing past the planet are also significant here. The new PhD student will work directly with experimental data from both the ESA Mars Express and NASA MAVEN missions. The position is available at the Uppsala office at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), located at the Angstrom Laboratory in Uppsala, Sweden, starting in 2018 for a total duration of four years. Information on research at IRF Uppsala can be found at: http://www.irfu.se For further details, please see: http://www.irf.se/Topical/Vacancies/?group=P4&vacid=58 Reference number: 2.2.1-253/17 Closing date: 31 October 2017 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 October 16-18, 2017 Conference Exobiologie Jeunes Chercheurs http://www.exobiologie.fr/index.php/actualites/evenements/conference -exobiologie-jeunes-chercheurs-octobre-2017/ Paris, France January 9-11, 2018 Building Bridges from Earth to Life: From Chemical Mechanism to Ancient Biology https://elsi6sympo.com/ Tokyo, Japan January 14-19, 2018 The Prebiotic Milieu Building the Evolution of Early Life https://www.grc.org/origins-of-life-conference/2018/ Galveston, TX March 11-14, 2018 Science with the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX2018) https://events.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/indico/event/58/ Tegernsee, Germany June 12-15, 2018 Geobiology http://web.gps.caltech.edu/GBcourse/ Pasadena,CA June 22-July 1, 2018 EUCOP 2018: 5th European Conference on Permafrost https://eucop2018.sciencesconf.org/ Chamonix, France August 13-17, 2018 The 11th Meeting on Cosmic Dust https://www.cps-jp.org/~dust/Welcome.html Sagamihara, Japan July 15-19, 2019 Ninth International Conference on Mars https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/ninthmars2019/ Pasadena, 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@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@psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor@psi.edu * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor@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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