PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 15, Number 31 (July 25, 2021) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Georgiana Kramer Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Alex Morgan Email: pen_editor@psi.edu Twitter: @pen2tweets o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. This Week's Open Meetings of Decadal Survey Panels 2. [NASA] Lunar Surface Technology Research Opportunities Solicitation Released 3. Opportunities for AGU Fall Meeting Conference Reimbursement 4. AGU Session P006: Clay-Sulfate Transitions as Indicators of Climate Change Across Mars 5. AGU Session P003: Atmospheric Dynamics and Astro-/Geo-physical Modeling Studies of Habitable Ocean Worlds, Moons, and Atmospheres Near and Far 6. AGU Session A032: Chemical Physics Insights Into Atmospheric and Planetary Chemistry 7. AGU Session P008: Enceladus - Beacon of Ocean Worlds 8. AGU Session P037: The New Mars Underground - Astrobiology and Space Resources at the Dawn of Mars Sample Return 9. AGU Session P024: Paleohydrology and Fluvial Dynamics of Martian Channels 10. European Solar System Plasma Community (ESSPC) 11. Postdoctoral Scholar Positions at Northern Arizona University in Planetary Science 12. Job Announcement: Ph.D. Student to Develop a CHON+PS Chemical Scheme Validated at High Temperatures with Applications in Planetology 13. Two Postdoctoral Positions, Planetary Radar Group, Arecibo Observatory 14. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 15. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 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 THIS WEEK'S OPEN MEETINGS OF DECADAL SURVEY PANELS Wed-Fri July 28-30, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM ET (includes both open and closed sessions, TBA) Steering Group Meeting #17 https://bit.ly/377aeaF Please see link above for agenda, connection information, and detailed information on timing of open sessions. For more information on the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032, go to: https://bit.ly/PSADS_general 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] LUNAR SURFACE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES SOLICITATION RELEASED NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has released "Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) Opportunities" as an appendix to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2021 solicitation, and is available at: https://tinyurl.com/LuSTR21 Only accredited U.S. universities are eligible to submit proposals. Teaming is permitted - see the LuSTR text for complete eligibility requirements, as well as teaming restrictions. The goal of LuSTR is to accelerate the development of groundbreaking technologies that support and enable lunar surface activities to be conducted under Artemis - the core of NASA's exploration and human spaceflight plans for the next decade. The starting Technology Readiness Level (TRL) will be TRL 2 - TRL 4; TRL advancement is required. LuSTR solicits proposals that are responsive to two Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative focus areas: Excavation/Construction and Extreme Environments; proposals should respond to the following four topics: - Autonomous Systems for Excavation and Site Preparation - Lunar Regolith Mineral Beneficiation - Cold-Temperature Analog Integrated Circuits - Novel Heat Transfer Fluids Notices of Intent (strongly encouraged) are due by August 20, 2021, with proposals due on or before September 17, 2021, 5 PM Eastern Time. Comments and questions may be addressed to hq-LuSTR@mail.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 OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGU FALL MEETING CONFERENCE REIMBURSEMENT To make the 2021 AGU Fall Meeting as widely accessible as possible, and to gauge community need, the Planetary Sciences Section of AGU wants to offer partial or full reimbursement of registration costs to those for whom registration expenses present a barrier to attendance. At this time, we cannot gauge the level of reimbursement we will be able to provide, or guarantee that all need will be met, and we are, unfortunately, unable to waive registration fees in advance. Applications are kindly requested by August 31, and can be completed through this Google form: https://forms.gle/KGj5XD8GsLp4RMyo9 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 AGU SESSION P006: CLAY-SULFATE TRANSITIONS AS INDICATORS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS MARS Mapping of Mars' surface has revealed associations between phyllosilicate minerals and older terrains, and between sulfate minerals and younger terrains. This arrangement is hypothesized to be evidence for planetary-scale climate change, from conditions that favored the formation of phyllosilicates (e.g., higher water/rock ratio, moderate pH) to those that favored sulfates (e.g., lower water/rock ratio, lower pH). In early 2021, Curiosity began traversing through a region that orbital data suggest records such a mineralogical transition in a single stratigraphic sequence. Curiosity has investigated over 400 vertical meters of strata dominated by phyllosilicate-bearing, lacustrine mudstone. However, spectra from the CRISM and OMEGA instruments imply that the rover will soon reach strata with variable abundances of mono- and polyhydrated sulfates. We invite presentations on Curiosity results and those that provide context, such as what has been learned from orbit, in situ exploration of phyllosilicate- and sulfate-bearing strata, and laboratory or field analog studies. We welcome your submissions by August 4: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Session/121726 Ashwin R. Vasavada, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech Michael A. Meyer, NASA Headquarters Becky McCauley Rench, NASA Headquarters 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 AGU SESSION P003: ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS AND ASTRO-/GEO-PHYSICAL MODELING STUDIES OF HABITABLE OCEAN WORLDS, MOONS, AND ATMOSPHERES NEAR AND FAR The realm of Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics (GAFD) has significantly expanded in phase space to include a wide variety of physical regimes. Models originally developed for phenomena on Earth and the Solar System are now being applied to exoplanets. Atmospheric circulation models are being tested against new observational constraints, as from the Juno Mission. On the other Reynolds number extreme, modeling convection in ice shells offer explanations for geological features on the surfaces of ocean worlds across the Solar System. In addition, astrophysical tools are now being applied to planetary science problems. This session aims to bring together a wide cross-section of these diverse communities that use a variety of practices and methods. We expect an engaging session that focuses on new results in exoplanetary and Solar System science, as well as computational methodology. This session honors Adam Showman (1968-2020) by representing the broad research topics studied by during his career. The abstract submission deadline is August 4: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Session/122739 More information: Tad Komacek (tkomacek@uchicago.edu). [Edited for length] 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 AGU SESSION A032: CHEMICAL PHYSICS INSIGHTS INTO ATMOSPHERIC AND PLANETARY CHEMISTRY We would like to draw your attention to a chemical physics/physical chemistry session at American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall meeting 2021, entitled Chemical Physics Insights into Atmospheric and Planetary Chemistry. Tackling the most demanding, unresolved problems in atmospheric and planetary chemistry requires broad collaboration. Fundamental science results obtained from detailed, state-of-the-art experimental, theoretical, and computational studies complement and facilitate our understanding of the holistic, more complex chemical environments of simulation chamber studies and atmospheric observations (both in situ and remote sensing). Through this session, we hope to bring more theoretical and experimental scientists from physical chemistry and chemical physics to AGU. The session aims to foster new interdisciplinary discussions and collaborations, as well as to share fundamental insights into timely topics in atmospheric and planetary chemistry. The abstract submission deadline is August 4: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Session/117692 We hope you will join us! Rebecca Caravan Stephen Klippenstein Marsha Lester Frank Winiberg 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 AGU SESSION P008: ENCELADUS - BEACON OF OCEAN WORLDS Saturn's moon Enceladus continues to captivate. Its diversity of ocean world processes offers a bounty of phenomena for fundamental science, including cryovolcanism and plume dynamics, surface geology and the tectonics of ice, tidal heating, interior structure, ocean circulation dynamics, water-rock geochemistry, hydrothermal systems, the origin and evolution of icy bodies, and much more. Enceladus is a gateway to alien oceans. Furthermore, Enceladus is one of the prime destinations for astrobiology, because of the easy access to ocean-derived materials, and because it appears to be tantalizingly habitable. Many of us are now asking how Enceladus can support life, and how might we search for evidence of life? This hybrid session (in person and virtual options) brings our diverse community together to discuss the current state of understanding of all things Enceladus. We also welcome contributions that contextualize Enceladus with other areas of Earth and Planetary Sciences, or provide perspectives on the future of Enceladus exploration. Please submit your abstract by August 4 at: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Session/124708 Chris Glein (Southwest Research Institute) Emily Martin (Smithsonian Institution) 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 AGU SESSION P037: THE NEW MARS UNDERGROUND - ASTROBIOLOGY AND SPACE RESOURCES AT THE DAWN OF MARS SAMPLE RETURN The next era of Mars exploration has begun, with current and future missions highlighting the importance of subsurface science for sample return, astrobiology, and human exploration. Signs of recent groundwater and active gas emissions have been identified by the Curiosity rover. Martian subsurface structure is probed with unprecedented precision via seismic and ground-penetrating radar measurements by the InSight lander and Perseverance rover. Caches for Mars Sample Return will include past subsurface materials that are now exposed at the surface. Future subsurface-oriented Mars missions will revolutionize our understanding of martian habitability, climate, and geologic history. These missions will apply technologies for prospecting and accessing in situ resources on Mars, enabling human exploration, and testing technologies for subsurface exploration of other planetary bodies. We invite submissions describing investigations of the martian subsurface, analog terrestrial deep biosphere sites, and subsurface exploration of other planetary bodies. Abstract deadline is August 4: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Session/119935 Jesse Tarnas (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Ana-Catalina Plesa (German Aerospace Center, DLR) Rachel Lee Harris (Harvard University) [Edited for length] 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 AGU SESSION P024: PALEOHYDROLOGY AND FLUVIAL DYNAMICS OF MARTIAN CHANNELS Martian channels have been studied at increasing spatial resolution over the past two decades enabling compelling interpretations of extra-terrestrial fluvial processes. Paleodeltas that may follow gravitational equipotential surfaces have been uncovered, along with possible Noachian precipitation-driven fluvial activity. Exceptionally preserved fluvial morphologies on Mars display complexities that offer a window into the character and dynamics of the surface paleohydrology from when they were active. Evidence is building for the possibilities of periglacial fluvial systems and oceans. Additionally, comparative morphological studies between Earth and Mars may yield insights into flow characteristics. While paleochannels have been examined to interpret paleohydrology and paleoclimate in numerous works, quantitative analysis of channel dynamics, especially temporal evolution of the hydrology underlying positive relief channels, remains under-explored. Accordingly, we welcome abstracts on interpreting the temporal evolution of martian channels, including those associated with landforms (e.g., alluvial fans and deltas), as well as on underlying climatic variations. Abstract submission deadline is August 4: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Session/121274 Catherine Russell Frances Rivera-Hernandez Adam Forte, Kory Konsoer Suniti Karunatillake 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 EUROPEAN SOLAR SYSTEM PLASMA COMMUNITY (ESSPC) Over the last few years the need for the organization of the European Solar System Plasma Community (ESSPC) has been discussed throughout the community. To continue coordination across the related fields that include ionospheric and magnetospheric physics, planetary magnetospheric environments, solar wind plasma, cometary plasmas, and solar plasmas, we would like to invite the members of the European community and those who are interested in collaborating with the European Solar System Plasma community, to join our mailing list. We are currently planning a meeting to discuss how to move forward with coordination across disciplines, countries, and agencies, as well as how to set up European priorities and objectives. Additionally, we will discuss the name of the group and how we can organize future meetings and other community events and activities. The details of the meeting will be announced through the mailing list. To subscribe to the email list please send an email to esspc-on@gfz-potsdam.de. If at any time you wish to unsubscribe, simply send an email to esspc-off@gfz-potsdam.de. You can join our slack channel: solarplasmacommunity.slack.com Further information can be found on the ESSPC website: www.esspc.eu [Edited for length] 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR POSITIONS AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY IN PLANETARY SCIENCE The PIXEL research group in the department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Northern Arizona University seeks two (2) postdoctoral scholars to join our vibrant research team. The successful candidates are expected to publish scientific papers and are encouraged to lead the submission of proposals for external funding. The successful candidates will work closely within the broader research group and may choose to mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students, though this is not explicitly required. We seek candidates to work in multiple areas, including field analog research and complementary laboratory studies, remote sensing of planetary surfaces, specifically Mars, and to carry out mission operation roles. Minimum Qualifications: - A Ph.D. in geoscience/remote sensing/planetary science or a related field - Experience with thermal infrared/visible-near infrared/visible remote sensing data of planetary surfaces, especially of Mars - Experience with commonly used planetary science software packages (including, ISIS, IDL, Python, etc.) For more details related to the preferred qualifications for each position and to apply please visit: https://bit.ly/36WBbxY Application deadline: August 6, 2021 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: PH.D. STUDENT TO DEVELOP A CHON+PS CHEMICAL SCHEME VALIDATED AT HIGH TEMPERATURES WITH APPLICATIONS IN PLANETOLOGY The broad wavelength coverage and high-sensitivity of the instruments on-board the JWST and Ariel telescopes will allow us to extract much more information from their data than what has been possible so far, leading to numerous breakthroughs. However, these breakthroughs will be possible only if the models used to interpret the observations are robust and reliable, in particular, photo-thermochemical models. While models taking into account Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen species (CHON) already exist, Sulfur- and Phosphorous-bearing molecules can affect the observations of exoplanets' atmospheres and thus need to be incorporated in models. The PhD candidate will develop a comprehensive CHON+PS scheme and will apply this scheme to the study of exoplanetary atmospheres, using a kinetic model. We are looking for an extremely motivated student who will be fully involved in a challenging interdisciplinary project linking the fields of combustion and astrophysics. The PhD candidate will have a double expertise, both in chemical schemes development and in atmospheric modeling. More information can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/tao2sfs68mnj2p5/PhD_EXACT_ANR2021_EN.pdf?dl=0 [Edited for length] 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 TWO POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS, PLANETARY RADAR GROUP, ARECIBO OBSERVATORY Two postdoctoral scientist positions are available in the planetary radar group at the Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico. The research emphasis of the group is the study and characterization of near-Earth objects and other Solar System bodies. The incumbents will be expected to participate in radar data processing, analysis, and modeling of near-Earth asteroids and other Solar System bodies observed using the Arecibo planetary radar system. We encourage applications from candidates with experience in any type of small bodies observations or research. Experience with radar observations and techniques, programming languages, and Linux systems is preferred but not required. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3iEHawA 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at https://planetarynews.org/meetings.html No new meetings. [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.] 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 SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Editor, Faith Vilas https://psj.aas.org Science Goals and Objectives for the Dragonfly Titan Rotorcraft Relocatable Lander Jason W. Barnes et al. 2021 PSJ 2:130 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abfdcf Six Outbursts of Comet 46P/Wirtanen Michael S. P. Kelley et al. 2021 PSJ 2:131 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abfe11 The Science Case for a Return to Enceladus Morgan L. Cable et al. 2021 PSJ 2:132 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abfb7a Hydroxide Salts in the Clouds of Venus: Their Effect on the Sulfur Cycle and Cloud Droplet pH Paul B. Rimmer et al. 2021 PSJ 2:133 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac0156 Chandrayaan-2 Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR): Performance Characterization and Initial Results Sriram S. Bhiravarasu et al. 2021 PSJ 2:134 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abfdbf *********************************************************************** * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at https://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to https://planetarynews.org/pen_subscribe.php, 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. Alternatively, the editorial staff will * create one for you. 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