PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 16, Number 3 (January 16, 2021) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Alex Morgan, Georgiana Kramer Email: pen_editor@psi.edu Twitter: @pen2tweets o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. AbSciCon 2022 Session: Preparing for In-Situ Life-Detection and Habitability Investigations Through Modelling, Laboratory, and Field Analog Experiments 2. AbSciCon 2022 Session: Ocean World Observations in Astrobiology - Remote Studies with Ground and Space Observatories 3. AbSciCon 2022 Session: Atmospheric Escape and Evolution at Terrestrial Planets 4. Director of Florida Space Institute at UCF 5. Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter for January 2022 6. 14th Virtual MEPAG Meeting (VM14) 7. [NASA] ROSES-21: Citizen Science Seed Funding Program Delay of Proposal Due Date 8. COSPAR Session B4.2: Mars Science Results 9. COSPAR Session B4.3: Forward Planning for the Exploration of Mars 10. COSPAR Session B4.4: Mars Sample Return 11. [NASA] SMD Virtual Townhall Meeting on SPD-41 Scientific Information Policy 12. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 13. 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 ABSCICON 2022 SESSION: PREPARING FOR IN-SITU LIFE-DETECTIO AND HABITABILITY INVESTIGATIONS THROUGH MODELLING, LABORATORY, AND FIELD ANALOG EXPERIMENTS Abstract Submission deadline January 19, 2022. https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon21/prelim.cgi/Session/112000 The search for biosignatures and indicators of habitable environments is a major goal of space exploration, but the expression (and preservation) of these signatures on planetary bodies can strongly depend on local conditions. Since each planetary target presents unique challenges, studies are often initiated to replicate these unique environments and thereby evaluate biosignature expression and potential detection strategies. This session invites papers on experimental, theoretical, or field analog studies that support existing or future in-situ investigations of planetary bodies (e.g., Europa, Enceladus, Mars, Ceres), and focus on processes by which biosignatures or key organic indicators can be degraded (e.g., radiation, oxidation, UV exposure, impact/shock processes, etc.) or preserved. 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 ABSCICON 2022 SESSION: OCEAN WORLD OBSERVATIONS IN ASTROBIOLOGY - REMOTE STUDIES WITH GROUND AND SPACE OBSERVATORIES https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon21/prelim.cgi/Session/111828 Abstracts Due January 19, 2022 Missions throughout the Solar System have dramatically revised our understanding of Astrobiology. Multiple lines of evidence now point to interior oceans in multiple bodies including Enceladus, Titan, and Galilean satellites. Moreover, Dawn at Ceres and New Horizons flyby of Pluto have hinted at liquid interiors in these dwarf planets. Remote sensing with ground and space-based observatories: including Hubble, Keck, ALMA and others offer capabilities that are complementary to planetary missions, but also offer long-term studies, statistical samples, and comparable planetology across multiple bodies. Additionally, the only capability for ocean world studies beyond our Solar System are limited to the enhanced capabilities and new technologies being implemented in observatories. In the future, the promise of facilities such as JWST and thirty-meter class telescopes for further discovery is enticing. This session solicits contributions focusing on observations of astrobiologically interesting targets, from missions to terrestrial telescopes, with the intention of promoting synergistic science. 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 ABSCICON 2022 SESSION: ATMOSPHERIC ESCAPE AND EVOLUTION AT TERRETRIAL PLANETS Abstract submission: https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon21/prelim.cgi/Session/141161 Submission deadline: January 19 Atmospheric composition is a key aspect of a planet's habitability. However, the present-day composition tells only a fraction of the story of a planet's atmosphere and, given the large timescales involved in the evolution of planetary conditions and a possible biosphere, it is necessary to understand the evolution of an atmosphere through time in order to understand the past history of ambient conditions necessary to harbor life. Furthermore, understanding the atmospheric escape processes in present-day atmospheres provides an important insight not only into the future of these planets, but also serve as proxies to understand the evolution of exoplanetary atmospheres by informing atmospheric models. This session invites contributions that use models and data to understand the evolution of past, present and future atmospheres, as well as the description of measurement ideas and mission concepts to address these important questions. Conveners: Leonardo Regoli, Tom Nordheim, David Brain, Chuanfei Dong 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 DIRECTOR OF FLORIDA SPACE INSTITUTE AT UCF The Florida Space Institute (FSI), a multidisciplinary center devoted to facilitating and conducting leading-edge applied and basic research and education programs in space-related fields, seeks applications and nominations for Director of FSI. FSI is located in the Research Park of the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. FSI's charter is to support space research, development, and education activities within the University of Central Florida and in the State of Florida, and secondarily to support the development of Florida's space economy, including civil, defense, and commercial. The Director also oversees the Arecibo Observatory located in Puerto Rico. UCF is committed to becoming a premier institution in space science, engineering, and education and is seeking a dynamic individual to implement that vision by growing FSI into a nationally recognized space research powerhouse. The FSI Director reports directly to UCF's Vice President of Research and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and will strategize, coordinate, and lead UCF's governmental, industry, research, commercialization, and administrative efforts in space science engineering and education. Details and application information at: https://tinyurl.com/2p9396ds 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 MARS EXPLORATION SCIENCE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR JANUARY 2022 On behalf of R. Aileen Yingst (MEPAG Chair), Rich Zurek, Brandi Carrier, and Dave Beaty of the Mars Program Science Office, the January 2022 edition of the Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter can be found attached and on the web at: https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov In this newsletter, we continue to update the upcoming conference schedule with postponements, cancellations, and conversions to virtual meetings. We hope everyone remains safe and healthy within these stressful, rapidly evolving, social-isolating times. Please send your Mars community announcements and calendar items for inclusion in the newsletter to Barbara at: Barbara.A.Saltzberg@jpl.nasa.gov 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 14TH VIRTUAL MEPAG MEETING (VM14) Wednesday and Thursday, February 2-3, 2022 1:00 pm-5:00 pm ET I cordially invite you to participate in the next virtual meeting (VM14) of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG), scheduled on Wednesday, February 2 and Thursday, February 3, 2022, from 1:00 - 5:00 pm ET, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm PT (same time block for both days). Agenda items are expected to include updates on the following: - MEPAG Status - MEP and Program Office Status - International Mars Ice Mapper (I-MIM) Measurement Definition Team (MDT) Status - Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) Workshop Report on Low-cost Mars Missions - Mars Missions Updates including Perseverance, Curiosity, and InSight - Extended Discussion about MEPAG Activities for the Coming Year The VM14 agenda and 2nd Information Circular will be shared on the MEPAG meeting website and through this mailing list: https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/meetings.cfm NOTE: Virtual meeting client and connectivity information will be included in the 2nd Information Circular. This meeting is open to all members of the Mars science community including our international colleagues, and I look forward to your participation. Sincerely, Dr. R. Aileen Yingst MEPAG Chair Please email questions to: mepagmeetingqs@jpl.nasa.gov 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] ROSES-21: CITIZEN SCIENCE SEED FUNDING PROGRAM DELAY OF PROPOSAL DUE DATE The Citizen Science Seed Funding Program (CSSFP; F.9 of ROSES-2021) aims to incubate citizen science projects as they are being conceived or during critical transitions, like the year when they are first launched or beta tested (i.e., when the first group of volunteers is invited to try the project) or when the project changes scientific direction. The Science/Technical/Management section of CSSFP is limited to 6 pages. CSSFP awards will have a duration of up to one year only. Proposals are now due February 15, 2022. [Edited for length] 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 COSPAR SESSION B4.2: MARS SCIENCE RESULTS Abstracts are currently being accepted for the Mars Science Results Session (COSPAR-22-B4.2) at the 44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (16-24 July 2022, hybrid - Athens, Greece and virtual). Session Description: Mars has been extensively studied using spacecraft data, theoretical modeling, laboratory studies, and comparative planetology over the last several decades. As of the conference, there are expected to be eight operating orbiters (ODY, MEx, MRO, MAVEN, MOM, TGO, Hope, and the Tianwen-1 orbiter), and three operating rovers (Curiosity, Perseverance, and the Tianwen-1 rover). These spacecraft are exploring Mars' atmosphere, surface, and subsurface to understand the planet's history and habitability. This session will address new science resulting from these missions and other recent missions, as well as studies reliant on theory, modeling, laboratory studies, and comparative planetology. This session will include a combination of solicited and contributed presentations, with a focus on international diversity. Abstract deadline is 11 February 2022 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts may be submitted at: https://www.cospar-assembly.org/assembly.php 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 COSPAR SESSION B4.3: FORWARD PLANNING FOR THE EXPLORATION OF MARS Abstracts are currently being accepted for the Session Forward Planning for the Exploration of Mars (COSPAR-22-B4.3) at the 44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (16-24 July 2022, hybrid - Athens, Greece and virtual). Session Description: Mars continues to be a compelling planetary exploration target in spite of, or perhaps even because of, the large number of prior and ongoing missions. The findings of each mission are typically met with an equal or greater number of questions raised to be answered by future missions. This session focuses on forward planning for the exploration of Mars including: 1) future hypothesis-driven or discovery-driven science instruments or missions and 2) The precursors that may help us prepare for future human missions. Topics of interest include the primary scientific drivers that require future missions to Mars, recent developments in our engineering and technological capabilities related to missions to Mars, an updated understanding of current mission concepts, and candidate instrumentation for future missions. This session will include a combination of solicited and contributed presentations, with a focus on international diversity. Abstract deadline is 11 February 2022 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts may be submitted at: https://www.cospar-assembly.org/assembly.php 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 COSPAR SESSION B4.4: MARS SAMPLE RETURN Abstracts are currently being accepted for the Mars Sample Return Session (COSPAR-22-B4.4) at the 44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (16-24 July 2022, hybrid - Athens, Greece and virtual). Session Description: NASA and ESA have embarked on a highly collaborative endeavor to return samples from Mars. A fundamental premise of this partnership is that scientists working around the world would share access to the samples such that the scientific benefits and discoveries are maximized. Progress in this international endeavor will be presented, including the progress Perseverance has made collecting samples in Jezero Crater, the planned mission architecture for returning the samples from Mars, and planning for analysis of the samples when they are returned to Earth. In addition, there will be presentations of recent of Mars Sample Return Science Planning Group reports. The challenges of ensuring the best international science is accomplished, while adhering to planetary protection requirements will be discussed. Contributions to this session are sought to reflect international interest in sample return and its potential scientific benefits. Abstract deadline is 11 February 2022 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts may be submitted at: https://www.cospar-assembly.org/assembly.php 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] SMD VIRTUAL TOWNHALL MEETING ON SPD-41 SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION POLICY The NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released SPD-41: Scientific Information policy for the Science Mission Directorate along with a Request for Information (RFI) about changes and implementation of this policy. To help provide further information about the policy and answer questions from the community, NASA SMD will be hosting a townhall on January 26, 2022 at 3 pm Eastern Time. Links to the Policy, WebEx, and a platform for questions in advance of the Town Hall appear below. Background information is at: https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/science-data/science-information-policy RFI on changes to SPD-41: https://tinyurl.com/29psbf43 The Q&A portal is: https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/n7tz/ The WebEx information is: https://tinyurl.com/2p9y4nda Event number: 2760 301 6227 Event password: 9XZtiaKSv33 Questions on the policy, RFI, or this meeting may be directed to: HQ-SMD-SPD41@mail.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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Note: Most face-to-face meetings going forward will have online components. Check their websites for details. Posted at https://planetarynews.org/meetings.html January 23-28, 2022 Origins of Life Conference - Challenging Paradigms in Prebiotic Chemistry https://www.grc.org/origins-of-life-conference/2022/ Oxnard, CA May 17-19, 2022 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M) https://tinyurl.com/5n8stjee Washington, DC May 17-20, 2022 The 7th International Planetary Dunes Workshop https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/dunes2022/ Alamosa, CO June 12-17, 2022 Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR 22) https://learn.mines.edu/gpr2022/ Golden, CO July 4-8, 2022 Rocky Worlds II https://www.rockyworlds.org Oxford, United Kingdom [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.] 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 SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Editor, Faith Vilas https://psj.aas.org Extreme-ultraviolet- and X-Ray-driven Photochemistry of Gaseous Exoplanets Daniele Locci et al. 2022 PSJ 3:1 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac3f3c A Cross-laboratory Comparison Study of Titan Haze Analogs: Surface Energy Jialin Li et al. 2022 PSJ 3:2 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac3d27 Local-time Dependence of Chemical Species in the Venusian Mesosphere Wencheng D. Shao et al. 2022 PSJ 3:3 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac3bd3 *********************************************************************** * 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.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. Alternatively, * the editorial staff will create one for you. 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