PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 5, Number 52 (November 13, 2011) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Melissa Lane Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. House Subcommittee Hearing on Planetary Science, Tuesday November 15 2. [NASA] Postdoctoral Fellowships 3. Exploring the Planetary Science Achievable from a Balloon-Based Observatory 4. Post-doc Opportunity - Auburn University 5. Research Scientist Position I - CalTech 6. Research Scientist Position II - CalTech 7. 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 HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON PLANETARY SCIENCE, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15 The House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics will be holding a hearing on "Exploring Mars and Beyond: What's Next for U.S. Planetary Science" in 2318 Rayburn HOB on Tuesday, November 15, from 10AM to Noon Eastern. Witnesses include Jim Green, NASA Planetary Science Division Director, and Steve Squyres, who chaired the recent NRC planetary decadal survey. Other witnesses are TBD. The hearing will be webcast live. Go to: http://science.house.gov/hearing/space-and-aeronautics-subcommittee -hearing-planetary-science This is an important hearing. The President's 2012 budget request for NASA (http://www.nasa.gov/news/budget/index.html) proposes increases in almost all areas of planetary science except Mars Exploration, which is reduced by $355M from 2012 to 2016 by excluding new large Mars missions, such as Max-C, the first of several flagships required to complete a Mars sample return over several decades. The Planetary Decadal Survey identified Max-C as the top recommended flagship mission. Should the budgets of other programs be sacrificed to fund this project? Does Mars exploration come to an end otherwise, or are there other options for restoring a vibrant Mars program after MSL? What are the top planetary priorities when budgets are tight? Mark Sykes Planetary Science Institute sykes@psi.edu 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] POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers scientists and engineers unique opportunities to conduct research at NASA Centers. Each NPP fellowship opportunity is designed to advance NASA research in a specific project related to space science, earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, lunar science, or 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. Stipends 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. Applications for the NASA Postdoctoral Program are accepted: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For information and to apply visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Send questions to nasapostdoc@orau.org [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 EXPLORING THE PLANETARY SCIENCE ACHIEVABLE FROM A BALLOON-BASED OBSERVATORY Can new capabilities in high altitude balloons open the door for new planetary science? Could this platform achieve high-value science, offer more flight opportunities, and at drastically lower costs? These, and similar questions will be explored in an upcoming workshop, Exploring the Planetary Science Achievable from a Balloon-Based Observatory, at the NASA Glenn Research Center on January 25-26, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. The primary purpose of the workshop is to determine the level of planetary science support there may be for a balloon-based planetary observatory. Balloon platform SOA will be presented. PIs will provide highlights and share experiences from recent missions. Following the informative sessions, break out panels will explore the science that can be achieved. More information will be available and questions will be answered during a virtual meeting scheduled for November 16, 2011 at 11 AM Eastern. Please see details at: http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SSPO/SP/Balloon_Platform/ 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 POST-DOC OPPORTUNITY - AUBURN UNIVERSITY Auburn University's Department of Geology and Geography has a post- doctoral position to be filled by a planetary or impact geologist. We have a small impact and planetary geology program and many other programs as well. If there are questions about impact/planetary, contact David King, Professor of Geology (kingdat@auburn.edu). Our department seeks a post-doc with a PhD in Geology or Geoscience- related disciplines beginning as early as January 2012. The appointment is for 1.5 years. The person will be collegial, teach two introductory geology courses per term, and have the ability to collaborate on research projects with the largest group of departmental faculty as possible. See: http://www.auburn.edu/academic/cosam/departments/geology/research/ Area of focus is open. Required are exemplary communication, teaching, research, and interpersonal skills. Specific duties may include fieldwork, laboratory analysis, data assimilation, quantitative modeling, and other tasks as appropriate. The post-doc will help with the supervision of undergraduate, graduate students, or lab visitors. Publication of work in peer-review journals is a requirement and the candidate will be expected to conduct independent research and bring in external funding. The candidate selected for the position must meet eligibility requirements to work in the US at the time of appointment. 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 POSITION I: RESEARCH SCIENTIST, COMETS AND SMALL BODIES, JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, CALTECH The Asteroid, Comets, and Satellites group in the JPL Science Division at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology has an opening available for a research scientist in comets, asteroids, or other small primitive bodies in the Solar System. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in planetary science or a related field, a record of research in solar system primitive bodies science as demonstrated by publications, good computer and software skills, and expertise in modeling the physics and chemistry of primitive solar system bodies, or analysis of spacecraft and/or ground-based observations (optical, IR, or sub-mm) of these bodies. It is anticipated that future work in connection with other small body missions will be possible and is encouraged. To view the full job description and apply to this position, please visit: http://careerlaunch.jpl.nasa.gov (see Requisition #10483) Candidates should submit a CV and a short statement (no more than 2 pages) of relevant cometary and small body research, and research goals. 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 POSITION II: RESEARCH SCIENTIST, COMETS AND SMALL BODIES, JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, CALTECH The Asteroid, Comets, and Satellites group in the JPL Science Division at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology has an opening available for a research scientist in comets and small bodies in the Solar System. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in astronomy or a related field, a record of research in small body solar system science as demonstrated by publications, good computer and software skills, and expertise in optical, IR, or sub-mm astronomy or thermal modeling of small bodies. The position is a staff position and it is primarily in connection with the MIRO experiment on the Rosetta spacecraft. The MIRO team is involved presently in the planning, and analysis stage of the Rosetta mission, including theoretical modeling of the nucleus and coma of the target comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Thermal modeling of the comet nucleus as a boundary condition for the development of the coma is a primary area of research for which this position is being advertised. It is anticipated that future work in connection with other small body missions will be possible and is encouraged. To view the full job description and apply to this position, please visit: http://careerlaunch.jpl.nasa.gov (see Requisition #10484) Candidates should submit a CV and a short statement (no more than 2 pages) of relevant cometary and small body research, and research goals. Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html February 27-29, 2012 Next-Gen Suborbital Researcher Conference http://nsrc.swri.org/ Palo Alto, CA October 10-11, 2012 International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions http://ssed.gsfc.nasa.gov/IPM.html Greenbelt, MD [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which you think 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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. Go to * http://planetarynews.org/submission.html for complete submission * directions. * * PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute * (http://www.psi.edu). ***********************************************************************