PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 4, Number 56 (December 26, 2010) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Melissa Lane Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Stony Brook Geosciences Faculty Search 2010-11 2. USGS Astrogeology Science Center Director 3. Postdoctoral Fellowship in Lunar Science and Exploration: Petrology and Geochemistry 4. DAWN mission support: Request for ground-based vestoid photometry 5. [NASA] Proposals Sought for Technology Flight Demonstrations and Information About Suborbital Flight Services 6. Low Cost Planetary Missions Conference 7. [NASA] Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientist Program 8. 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 STONY BROOK GEOSCIENCES FACULTY SEARCH 2010-11 Stony Brook University's Department of Geosciences invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor faculty position in the field of remote sensing with a specialty in planetary spectroscopy. The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in the geosciences, planetary sciences, or a related field at the time of appointment and preference will be given to those with post-doctoral experience. The successful candidate must have demonstrated potential to establish an internationally recognized, externally funded research program that would include mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students. To apply, submit a cover letter, CV, research and teaching statements, and the names and contact information of three references to: Chair of Search Committee Department of Geosciences 255 Earth and Space Sciences Building Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100 Preferred: Electronic submissions in one PDF document through the online system. For a full position description, application procedures, or to apply online, visit: http://www.stonybrook.edu/jobs (Ref. #F-6619-10-12). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however for best consideration, please submit materials by January 17, 2011. Stony Brook University/SUNY is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. 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 USGS ASTROGEOLOGY SCIENCE CENTER DIRECTOR The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) invites applications for a full-time permanent position located in Flagstaff, AZ. The USGS seeks an established scientist of national reputation with demonstrated ability to develop, lead, and administrate the Astrogeology Science Center. The Astrogeology Science Center conducts innovative, fundamental research that advances the fields of planetary cartography, geoscience, and remote sensing. Astrogeology also supports both spacecraft operations and data analysis through its ability to develop and maintain state-of-the-art software and techniques for scientific and cartographic analysis. Applicants must be United States citizens. Ph.D. or equivalent experience is required. Candidates need a strong background in research science, preferably the planetary sciences, and proven leadership skills in managing "soft-money" research organizations. Candidates with a strong publication record in the planetary sciences, experience managing project portfolios, and proven scientific leadership skills are highly encouraged to apply. For detailed vacancy announcement, including specific qualification requirements and application procedures for this opportunity go to: http://jobview.usajobs.gov Current Federal Employees Refer to: Vacancy Announcement: PAC-2011-0135 Non-Federal Employees Refer to: Vacancy Announcement: PAC-2011-0141 Deadline for applications: January 19, 2011 The USGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN LUNAR SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION: PETROLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY Universities Space Research Association (USRA) invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in lunar science and exploration. The successful candidate will work at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and use the analytical facilities at the adjacent NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), joining Dr. David A. Kring and over two dozen other scientists in the new Center for Lunar Science and Exploration. The Center is one of seven national centers of excellence supported by NASA's Lunar Science Institute. See: http://www.lpi.usra.ed/nlsi The main goals of the Center's activities are to address NASA's highest lunar science priorities, and to assist with a new generation of exploration activities in preparation of robotic and crewed landings. We invite applications from those with recent Ph.D.s in the fields of petrology and geochemistry. Previous experience with lunar samples and/or impact lithologies is advantageous, but not required. Questions should be directed to Dr. David A. Kring (kring@lpi.usra.edu). Send a curriculum vita with list of publications, a two to three page statement of research interests, and a list of three references to resume@hou.usra.edu. There is no firm application deadline, although a review of applications will begin January 7, 2011. 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 DAWN MISSION SUPPORT: REQUEST FOR GROUND-BASED VESTOID PHOTOMETRY Dear Colleagues. Dr. Bonnie Buratti and I are members of the DAWN science team and we are in the process of generating a photometric model of 4 Vesta in anticipation of spacecraft rendezvous in August 2011. Ground-based photometry of V-type asteroids (Vestoids) over a wide range of solar phase angles would be extremely useful in constraining our model. We have identified three Vestoids that are well-placed for observation during spring of 2011: 1981 Midas, 4668 (1980 WF), and 137052 (1998 VO3). All three are near-Earth asteroids and all three should be brighter than V~18 for a significant portion of their apparitions. 4888 (1980 WF) remains near the ecliptic throughout the apparition while 137052 (1998 VO33) and 1981 Midas will be best observed from the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively. Photometry would likely have to be accurate to 0.1 mag to be useful although more precise photometry (preferably to 0.01 mag) would allow us to subtract rotational lightcurve effects. If you would like to join us in this project we would most welcome your help. Please contact Michael.Hicks@jpl.nasa.gov and of course any collaborators would be coauthors on any publication that utilizes the data. 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 [NASA] PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR TECHNOLOGY FLIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS AND INFORMATION ABOUT SUBORBITAL FLIGHT SERVICES NASA Office of the Chief Technologist Flight Opportunities Program is seeking proposals from researchers interested in testing new technologies during suborbital flights. The agency also is requesting information from commercial suborbital reusable launch vehicle providers and commercial payload integrators about carrying the technology payloads. The selected payloads will fly on aircraft that provide parabolic flight trajectories and on suborbital reusable launch vehicles capable of flying to altitudes above 62 miles. The flights will expose the payloads to reduced gravity and near-zero gravity environments. Please see links to Announcement of Opportunity and to the RFI at: http://go.usa.gov/rlq The NASA press release can be found here: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/dec/HQ_10-345_Flight_Opp.html 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 LOW COST PLANETARY MISSIONS CONFERENCE The Low Cost Planetary Missions Conference series was begun in 1994 to further the international need for successful, low cost planetary missions. The 9th session of this conference is scheduled for June 20-24, 2011 and will be held in Laurel, Maryland, USA. This conference is a forum for planetary scientists, technologists, engineers, managers, and agency officials to collect and exchange information and ideas for making this class of robotic mission scientifically richer and yet affordably low cost. In general, low-cost missions are the NASA equivalent of an Explorer or Discovery mission. The space agencies of Europe, Japan, Russia, India, and China have similar programs of planetary exploration within this cost range. These missions continue to provide significant advances in scientific knowledge. Papers are sought in a range of applicable disciplines. Areas covered in the conference program include, but are not limited to, the following: - Recent and Current Missions, Scientific Results - Mission Planning and Operations - Mission Management - Technology and Engineering - Launch and Delivery Methods Abstracts are due on February 1, 2011 and are limited to one page. The full call for papers is available at: http://LCPM9.jhuapl.edu [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 [NASA] MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY PARTICIPATING SCIENTIST PROGRAM The MSL Participating Scientist Program is intended to enhance the scientific return from the MSL mission (http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/) by augmenting the existing MSL science team to include new investigations that broaden and/or complement the funded Principal Investigator (PI)-led investigations, thus maximizing the contribution of MSL to the future exploration and scientific understanding of Mars. The second and equally important goal of this opportunity is to increase the number of scientists supporting daily mission operations. Notices of Intent are due January 21, 2011, and proposals are due March 22, 2011. Go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH10ZDA001N". Questions concerning this program may be addressed to Dr. Michael Meyer 202-358-0307 HQ-MSLPS@mail.nasa.gov [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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html March 15-17, 2011 IXO Science Meeting:Present Status and Future Prospects in X-ray Astronomy http://www.iasf-roma.inaf.it/IXO/ Rome, Italy April 26-28, 2011 A Decade of Exploration with the Magellan Telescopes http://magellan10.obs.carnegiescience.edu/index.php Pasadena, CA July 4-8, 2011 European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (JENAM-2011) http://www.jenam2011.org/conf/ Saint Petersburg, Russia July 27-29, 2011 Rings 2011 http://rings2011.astro.cornell.edu Ithaca, New York [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 * * To unsubscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_unsubscribe.html * * 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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