PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 5, Number 47 (October 16, 2011) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Melissa Lane, Susan Benecchi Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. William H. Smyth, 1941-2011 2. [NASA] Astrobiology Institute Proposal Opportunity 3. [NASA] PSS Assessment of the Planetary Science Division's Mission-Enabling Activities Now Available 4. Registration and Abstract Submittal for the 2012 Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC-2012) is now Open 5. Postdoctoral Researchers in Lunar Science 6. Caltech-JPL Postdoctoral Scholar Positions in Mars Atmospheric Structure, Composition and Dynamics 7. [NASA] Outer Planets Assessment Group Meeting, 19-20 Oct 2011 8. Astronomy Education Review Celebrates 10th Anniversary 9. Deadline Approaching for NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship 10. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 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 WILLIAM H. SMYTH, 1941-2011 William H. Smyth passed away on Friday Sept. 30, 2011 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Iris (of 43 years), three children and five grandchildren. Bill graduated from Harvard in 1972 and after a postcoc with Michael McElroy working on Voyager observations he became an early member of AER in Lexington Ma., where he spent almost all of his career. Bill was a leader in planetary exospheres and conducted pioneering research on the exospheres of Io, Europa, Mercury, the moon, comets, and the Saturnian H cloud, especially in complex orbital environments. His expertise on Io's neutral clouds and the plasma torus were second to none. Bill constructed the first successful model of Io's neutral clouds and studied their response to and the resulting mass loading of Jupiter's magnetosphere. This led to his serving as an IDS with the Galileo mission. Recently, Bill extended his research to the denser parts of the atmosphere and pioneered the consistent physical description of atmospheres through all degrees of collisionality. Bill was equally comfortable developing theory and analyzing observations. His meticulous penetrating research, persistent search for the underlying truth, honesty, and integrity will be deeply missed. (Editor Note - Go to: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n =William-Smyth&pid=154005618 to sign a guest book for recording memories and condolences.) 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] ASTROBIOLOGY INSTITUTE PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITY NASA announces an opportunity for the submission of team-based proposals for membership in the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). Proposers must clearly articulate an innovative, interdisciplinary, astrobiology research program, together with plans to advance the full scope of NAI objectives as defined in the Institute's Mission Statement: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/about/#mission and respond to the long-term goals and objectives given in the Astrobiology Roadmap: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/roadmap/ Proposals are encouraged that place emphasis on research that will help prepare for current or future flight programs directed at astrobiological targets. It is anticipated that $6-8M will be available for this selection in the first award year, leading to the award of approximately 4-5 Cooperative Agreements, each of 5 years duration. Participation in this solicitation is open to all categories of organizations, domestic and non-U.S. Go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Select "Solicitations" then select "Open Solicitations" then select "NNH12ZDA002C". NOI due date: November 21, 2011 Proposal due date: January 31, 2012 For additional information on the NASA Astrobiology Institute, contact: Carl Pilcher 650-604-0022 can6@nasa.gov Additional information on this Notice and the overall NASA Astrobiology Program may be obtained from: Mary Voytek 202-358-1577 mary.voytek-1@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 NASA PSS ASSESSMENT OF THE PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION'S MISSION-ENABLING ACTIVITIES NOW AVAILABLE A report by the NASA Planetary Science Subcommittee regarding mission-enabling activities of the SMD Planetary Science Division has been released and is available at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/pss/ 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 REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACT SUBMITTAL FOR THE 2012 NEXT-GENERATION SUBORBITAL RESEARCHERS CONFERENCE (NSRC-2012) IS NOW OPEN Hosted by NASA Ames, SwRI, and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, NSRC is THE meeting for researchers and educators wanting to participate in, learn about, and contribute to the new era of commercial, reusable suborbital spaceflight. In 2011, over 350 people participated, and over 400 are expected this year. Reserve your seat by registering today at: http://nsrc.swri.org/ Abstracts for talks should also be submitted at this web site. The conference will take place at the Crowne Royal hotel in Palo Alto near NASA Ames February 27 to 29. Students may register at a deeply discounted rate. Sessions range over topics from planetary science, atmospheric science, and astro/solar physics applications of next-gen suborbital vehicles for research, to how-to panels and talks on the various launch companies and NASA's funding for work aboard these vehicles. On behalf of the sponsors and the conveners of NSRC-2012, we look forward to your participation in NSRC in Palo Alto this February, and encourage your early (and discounted) registration. 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 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN LUNAR SCIENCE The Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) invites applications for lunar science and exploration postdoctoral fellowships. Opportunities include: Lunar Surface Geology and Remote Sensing - Using new LRO data; integrating it with existing lunar data to evaluate processes associated with impact cratering and/or planetary differentiation. Experience with orbital remote sensing methods, photometry of lunar materials, and photogeology of lunar or lunar-like terrains preferred. Experimental and/or Analytical Petrology and Geochemistry - Using Apollo and lunar meteorite samples (or synthetic analogues) to evaluate processes associated with impact cratering and/or planetary differentiation. Experience with electron and ion microprobes, and/or LA-ICPMS techniques preferred. Modeling of Impact Cratering Processes - Using hydrocodes and relevant analytical techniques to evaluate different cratering processes on the Moon, to model specific crater or basin-forming events, and potentially guide future exploration scenarios. The successful candidate will be a member of the new LPI-JSC Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/nlsi/), one of the core teams within the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Further information, including submission requirements are found at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu Questions regarding science involved in the position, contact Dr. David Kring (kring@lpi.usra.edu). The Universities Space Research Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 CALTECH-JPL POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR POSITIONS IN MARS ATMOSPHERIC STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION AND DYNAMICS This opportunity will involve analysis and modeling of data collected by the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) instrument on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft. MCS is an advanced limb-sounding infrared radiometer that collects data in one visible and 8 infrared channels, to characterize Mars' atmospheric temperature structure and aerosol loading. MCS has been collecting data at Mars since September 2006. The successful candidate(s) will work with Level 2 data (retrieved profiles of temperature, pressure, and ice and dust abundance) to study Martian atmospheric dynamics (including tides) and the distribution and properties of Martian clouds and dust. Dr. David M. Kass, in JPL's Division 32, will serve as JPL postdoctoral advisor to the selected candidate(s). The appointee(s) will carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor and the MCS team. Please send a letter describing your research interests, a curriculum vitae, a list of three references (with telephone numbers, postal and email addresses), and arrange reference letters to be sent to: Dr. David M. Kass JPL M/S 169-237 4800 Oak Grove Dr. Pasadena, CA 91109 USA 818-354-3560 818-393-4619 (FAX) dkass@jpl.nasa.gov Caltech and JPL are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers. 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] OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP MEETING, 19-20 OCT 2011 The final agenda for the October 19-20, 2011, OPAG meeting has been posted on the Outer Planets Assessment Group website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag Agendas for the Europa Lander Open Forum (Oct 20) and Uranus Working Group Meeting (Oct 17-18), which will be held in conjunction with the OPAG meeting, are also posted on the OPAG website. Potential OPAG attendees are kindly asked to go to: http://icpi.nasaprs.com/opag and click on the invitation link and RSVP for attendance (to assist our meeting planners). Bill McKinnon, OPAG Chair 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 ASTRONOMY EDUCATION REVIEW CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY Astronomy Education Review (AER), the on-line journal/magazine about astronomy education and outreach, published by the American Astronomical Society, celebrates its 10th anniversary of publication this fall. The first paper in the journal, founded by Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College) and Sidney Wolff (NOAO), came on line in October 2001. After being published by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, with support from NASA and other organizations, AER became a publication of the American Astronomical Society, the U.S. professional organization of astronomers, in 2009. Wolff retired at that time, but Fraknoi continues to assist the editor-in-chief, Thomas Hockey, of the University of Northern Iowa. The journal can be read at no charge at the web address: http://aer.aas.org AER now publishes the overwhelming majority of research papers about astronomy education, by authors from around the world. It also features shorter pieces on innovative techniques and materials, resource guides and reviews, dissertation abstracts, op-ed pieces, letters and announcements. In the first 8 months of 2011, the journal had readers in 98 countries and had 14,000 unique visitors to its site. All contributions (except announcements) are peer-reviewed. 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 DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP The next deadline to apply for a NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) fellowship is November 1, 2011. These competitive one- to three-year appointments advance NASA's missions in space science, earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, lunar science, and astrobiology. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. U. S. citizens and foreign nationals who hold Lawful Permanent Resident status or who are eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar may apply. An H-1B Visa status is not acceptable because the NPP is not an employment program. Stipend rates for Postdoctoral Fellows start at $50,000 per year, with moderate supplements for high cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Funds are available for relocation expenses, up to a specified limit, and health insurance is available through the program. Fellows also receive $8,000 per appointment year to support travel to conferences, meetings, and other activities that directly support their research. For further information about this opportunity and to apply online, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions regarding this opportunity may be submitted to nasapostdoc@orau.org [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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html November 21-22, 2011 NEAT 2011 Workshop http://neat.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/NEAT2011WS.html Grenoble, France February 27-29, 2012 Legacy of AKARI: A Panoramic View of the Dusty Universe http://uju.snu.ac.kr/AKARI-2/ Jeju, Korea March 21-23, 2012 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2012) http://anstd.ans.org/NETS2012/NETS2012Home.html The Woodlands, TX [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, or * send a request to pen_editor at psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor at psi.edu * * 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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