PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 14, Number 3 (January 19, 2020) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Elisabeth Adams Co-Editors: Georgiana Kramer, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor@psi.edu Twitter: @pen2tweets o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. COSPAR 2020 Session 20-B1.3: Results from the Exploration of the Kuiper Belt by NASA's New Horizons Mission 2. COSPAR 2020 Session B4.4: Venus Science and Exploration 3. [NASA] ROSES-19: New Mandatory NOI Date and Documents for Mars 2020 Participating Scientist Program 4. [NASA] Call for Abstracts for the 71st International Astronautical Congress 5. AOGS 2020 Session PS11: Geology, Geophysics, and Habitability in Our Solar System 6. [NASA] Mars Sample Return Program Director Job Announcement 7. [NASA] Funded NPP Opportunity at MSFC 8. Geological Society of America Session Proposals Due February 1, 2020 9. 2020 MEPAG Goals Document Draft is now Available for Community Comments - Feedback Due by February 14 10. Register Today for the 2020 Humans to Mars Summit 11. [NASA] ROSES-19: Step-1 Due Date Delay for E.5 Applied Information Systems Research 12. Seeking NASA-Funded Mentors for Summer Undergraduate Program in Planetary Research (SUPPR) 13. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions Commercial Announcements: C1. Book: Remote Compositional Analysis C2. Book: Meteoroids 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 COSPAR 2020 SESSION 20-B1.3: RESULTS FROM THE EXPLORATION OF THE KUIPER BELT BY NASA'S NEW HORIZONS MISSION We call your attention and invite contributed talks for the COSPAR-2020 session on "Results from the Exploration of the Kuiper Belt by NASA's New Horizons Mission." Abstract submission is open through February 14. The 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly will occur August 15-22, 2020, in Sydney, Australia. Website: https://www.cospar-assembly.org This session will review and extend the scientific results obtained from the exploration of KBO 2014 MU69 (Arrokoth) by NASA's New Horizons mission. Topics will include the color, composition, bulk properties, geology and origin of MU69, including its cratering record, with the objective of understanding the formation of Kuiper Belt planetesimals. The session will also examine the loss of primordial volatiles from MU69, its space weathering evolution, the Kuiper Belt radiation and dust environment, and observations of dwarf planets and other KBOs to assess satellite populations, phase curves, rotational lightcurves, and shapes, and to otherwise place MU69 in context. On behalf of this special session's conveners and scientific organizing committee: Alan Stern Dale Cruikshank Michele Bannister Cynthia Conrad JJ Kavelaars Alessandro Morbidelli Catherine Olkin Bernard Schmitt Kelsi Singer John Spencer Anne Verbiscer Harold Weaver 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 COSPAR 2020 SESSION B4.4: VENUS SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION The 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly will take place in Sydney, Australia, August 15-22, 2020. You are invited to submit abstracts to the session B4.4: Venus Science and Exploration. This session welcomes presentations on all aspects of the Venus system including interior, surface, atmosphere and ionosphere. We welcome presentations based on current and past observations, including those from the Akatsuki and Venus Express orbiter, as well as from ground-based observations. Modeling and theoretical work, and supporting ground-based studies are also welcomed, as are presentations related to future instruments and investigations. The session seeks to include future exploration plans from all international agencies considering Venus missions, including NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, ISRO, CNSA, and JAXA. Invited talks will cover international Venus exploration missions including JAXA Akatsuki and ISRO Venus orbiters. Other Venus-related COSPAR sessions include: C4.3 - Venus International Reference Atmosphere (VIRA) Update C3.1 - Planetary Atmospheres PSB.1 - Scientific Ballooning: Recent Developments in Technology and Instrumentation The abstract submission deadline is February 14, 2020. Go to: https://cospar-assembly.org Convenors: Colin Wilson (Oxford University, UK) James Cutts (NASA/JPL, USA) Masato Nakamura (ISAS/JAXA, Japan) [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] ROSES-19: NEW MANDATORY NOI DATE AND DOCUMENTS FOR MARS 2020 PARTICIPATING SCIENTIST PROGRAM Mandatory Notices of Intent for the Mars 2020 Participating Scientist Program has been delayed to January 27, 2020. The due date for proposals remains unchanged. A FAQ, Helicopter Proposal Information Package, and Mars 2020 Science Team Guidelines have been posted to the NSPIRES page for this program element, under "Other Documents". Go to: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do ?solId=%7b166A5742-5756-0A9C-F123-4B65607CF9F2%7d&path=&method=init The Mars 2020 Participating Scientist Program is to enhance the scientific return from the mission, augmenting the existing Mars 2020 science team to include new investigations that broaden and/or complement the funded Principal Investigator-led investigations. The second important goal of this opportunity is to increase the number of scientists supporting daily mission operations. This solicitation is timed to permit selection and training of participating scientists (PSs) in time to contribute fully to both pre-landing activities, such as landing site analysis, and science operations immediately upon arrival at Mars. Selected participating scientists will become members of the Mars 2020 science team and be required to fulfill responsibilities similar to those of current science team members. Questions concerning this program element may be directed to Mitchell Schulte at mitchell.d.schulte@nasa.gov. [Edited for length] 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] CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR THE 71ST INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL CONGRESS NASA intends to participate in the 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and requests that full-time U.S. graduate students attending U.S. universities respond to this "Call for Abstracts." The IAC - which is organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) - is the largest space-related conference world-wide and selects an average of 1000 scientific papers every year. The upcoming IAC will be held October 21-25, 2020 in Dubai, UAE. NASA's participation in this event is an on-going effort to continue to bridge NASA with the astronautical and space international community. This "Call for Abstracts" is a precursor to a subsequent submission of a final paper, which may be presented at the 71st IAC. Get more information at and submit your abstract to NASA no later than 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at: https://iac.nasaprs.com Please submit proof of U.S. citizenship and current enrollment in U.S. university or college no later than February 27, 2020 to abstract@nasaprs.com. Submit your abstract to the IAF by Friday, February 28, 2020 (23:59:00 GST) at their website: http://www.iafastro.net [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 AOGS 2020 SESSION PS11: GEOLOGY, GEOPHYSICS, AND HABITABILITY IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM The surfaces of the terrestrial planets and their satellites have been largely shaped through geological processes. Extreme conditions on outer Solar System bodies, such as the Jovian and Saturnian satellites, result in different types of exogenic and endogenic features. Fracturing and faulting processes mainly affect minor bodies such as asteroids and small moons, where volcanism and tectonism have not played an important role. We invite contributions that cover a wide range of topics including geomorphology and composition of volcanic deposits, edifices, and plumes, volcano-induced deformation and edifice growth and collapse to tectonic structures, faulting and fracturing processes, crustal stress and strain analysis, cryovolcanism, fluvial and aeolian features, and any study related to planetary endogenic and exogenic processes. Furthermore, studies that relay interactions between planetary interiors, surfaces, atmospheres, and astrobiology/habitability are welcomed. Comparative studies of geological systems on Earth with a strong remote sensing component are encouraged. Go to: http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2020/public.asp?page=home.html The abstract submission deadline is January 21, 2020. Hope to see you there! The Conveners: Dr. Anezina Solomonidou (European Space Agency (ESA) ESAC, Spain) Dr. Rosaly Lopes (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, United States) 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] MARS SAMPLE RETURN PROGRAM DIRECTOR JOB ANNOUNCEMENT The Mars Sample Return Program Director job posting is now live on USAJOBS. Please see below: HQ20S0009 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/556552400 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] FUNDED NPP OPPORTUNITY AT MSFC Applications are invited for NASA Postdoctoral Fellow (opportunity 19235) to work with Dr. Caleb Fassett at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The position was recently funded by a NASA SSW grant entitled "Three questions related to crater scaling and production on Mercury, the Moon and Mars". The goal of this project is to examine target effects on the cratering process and crater populations. The expectation is that the NPP would contribute to this research through analysis of orbital remote sensing data and/or numerical modeling. There is also room for the Postdoctoral Fellow to pursue other topics of interest in the broad field of planetary surface processes. Interested applicants are welcome to discuss or formulate specific research questions with Dr. Fassett before beginning a NPP application or proposal. Applicants are encouraged to submit a NPP proposal for the March 1, 2020 deadline. Applicants from historically underrepresented groups in STEM fields, with non-traditional backgrounds, and/or with a demonstrated interest in efforts to improve inclusion and diversity in STEM are especially encouraged to apply. https://planetary.msfc.nasa.gov/NppMarch2020.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 GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA SESSION PROPOSALS DUE FEBRUARY 1, 2020 The Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America would like to encourage community members to consider submitting proposals for topical sessions or Pardee Keynote Symposia at the annual meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 25-28. Topical sessions are a combination of volunteered and up to 3 invited papers submitted to a specific session. Pardee Keynote Symposia are special sessions that are highly innovative in content and/or format that consist entirely of invited papers. If you have any questions, you may contact Dr. Emily Martin (martines@si.edu)or any other member of the PGD board. Further information and proposal submission instructions may be found here: https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/cfs.cgi 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 2020 MEPAG GOALS DOCUMENT DRAFT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY COMMENTS - FEEFBACK DUE BY FEBRUARY 14 The 2020 MEPAG Goals Document revisions DRAFT (and Summary Matrix) are available at the MEPAG Reports site, along with the 2018 MEPAG Goals Document. Community comments about the 2020 MEPAG Goals Document draft should be submitted via this Google form, through end-of-day Friday, February 14. Please break your input into comments on the particular goal or goals in which you wish to see changes, and as appropriate include reference to the specific section or line number. Comments are also welcomed on the cross-cutting themes chapter. Based on these comments, the MEPAG Goals Committee will finish revising the Goals Document, and aims to complete the final and official 2020 MEPAG Goals Document before MEPAG Meeting 38, ideally at LPSC 2020. The current (2018) MEPAG Goals Document and the updated (2020) draft can be found at: https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports.cfm?expand=science Google form for comments: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e /1FAIpQLSfNrO3P-1jli7pXSOx3KCJbJwP1tgjJcPzY88R4v5rbgT28xw/viewform A listing of Goals Committee representatives can be found at: https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/about.cfm Thank you for your help and input! Don Banfield (MEPAG Goals Committee Chair) [Edited for length] 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2020 HUMANS TO MARS SUMMIT Early registration for the 2020 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M) is now open. H2M 2020 will be held on May 12-14, 2020 at the prestigious and historic National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C. Register at: https://www.exploremars.org Tentative speakers already include Jim Green, Lori Glaze, Alan Stern, Ellen Stofan, Mat Kaplan, Penelope Boston, Lisa Pratt, and many others. H2M 2020 will present the latest on such topics as: Are missions to the Moon by 2024 and Mars by 2033 achievable? How will the 2020 Mars Rover advance the goal of getting humans to Mars? If we find life on Mars, what next? The Innovation of Mars and the benefits to Earth Mars and Workforce Development: Young professional panel Cities in Space: Mars student competition Advancing Mars Through Cubesats Traveling to Mars: A panel of astronauts discuss the opportunities and challenges of human explorers on Mars Early registration available until January 31, 2020. 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] ROSES-19: STEP-1 DUE DATE DELAY FOR E.5 APPLIED INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH The Applied Information Systems Research (AISR) program seeks innovative ideas for applying advanced information and related technologies to increase life cycle effectiveness and efficiency of SMD programs. This solicitation is for an instance called Autonomous Robotics Research for Ocean Worlds (ARROW) to develop autonomy software systems to significantly increase the robustness and productivity of future Ocean Worlds lander missions. Specifically, ARROW would seek functional and system-level autonomous capabilities for future Ocean Worlds lander missions that: a) Increase the productivity of surface science operations; b) Reduce the frequency of ground control contact and uplink/downlink command cycles necessary for surface science operations; and c) Enable autonomous adaptation to spacecraft faults, degradations, failures or other unexpected conditions. Step-1 proposals are now due January 21, 2020. The Step-2 proposal due date remains unchanged at March 20, 2020. Go to: http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2019 Point of contact concerning this program is Carolyn Mercer who may be reached at cmercer@nasa.gov. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 SEEKING NASA-FUNDED MENTORS FOR SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN PLANETARY RESEARCH (SUPPR) The Summer Undergraduate Program in Planetary Research (SUPPR; formerly known as PGGURP) is seeking qualified mentors to supervise a skilled undergraduate for 8 weeks over the summer of 2020: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/suppr Qualified mentors have: SSW or "DAP" funding (e.g., LDAP); a well-defined project for an undergraduate summer intern; facilities to host an intern (e.g., desk space, office space or lab space). SUPPR will cover the cost of intern housing, but we expect mentors to help interns find suitable housing for the duration of the internship. Interested? Please apply using the online form: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/suppr/app_mentor/application_form/index.cfm Questions? Contact the SUPPR Director, Tracy K.P. Gregg (tgregg@buffalo.edu). 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html June 29-July 3, 2020 European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting https://eas.unige.ch//EAS_meeting/ Leiden, The Netherlands [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop that you think your colleagues should be aware of, please send the date, title, URL and location to pen_editor@psi.edu.] *********************************************************************** COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS *********************************************************************** C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1 BOOK: REMOTE COMPOSITIONAL ANALYSIS Edited by Janice L. Bishop, James F. Bell III, and Jeffrey E. Moersch This book provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and practical applications of spectroscopic, mineralogical, and geochemical techniques used in planetary remote sensing. It describes state-of-the-art developments in analyzing the chemistry and mineralogy of the surfaces of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, making it an authoritative reference for advanced students, researchers, and professional planetary scientists. More details, including sample pages, at: http://www.cambridge.org/9781107186200 C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2 BOOK: METEOROIDS Edited by Galina O. Ryabova, David J. Asher and Margaret D. Campbell-Brown This definitive guide for advanced students and researchers of meteor science covers all of the central topics, from the physical composition of meteoroids to recent observational and theoretical developments. Emphasizing future avenues of research, this volume will be the standard resource on meteors and meteoroids for many years to come. More details, including sample pages, at: http://www.cambridge.org/9781108426718 *********************************************************************** * 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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. All PEN * submissions will be tweeted @pen2tweets. Please submit a 234 (or * fewer) character tweet to accommodate the PEN tag. 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