PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 5, Number 57 (December 18, 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. Pre-A/O Notice: 1st International Announcement of Opportunity for Hayabusa Sample Investigation 2. Space Policy Internships at the NRC's Space Studies Board 3. [NASA] Postdoctoral Fellowships 4. Registration Open for "Exploring the Planetary Science Achievable from a Balloon-Based Observatory" Workshop 5. USGS Astrogeology Announcement to Hire a New Science Center Director 6. [NASA] PDS - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 8 7. Deadline Approaching for the Lunar Exploration Summer Intern Program 8. 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 PRE-A/O NOTICE: 1ST INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR HAYABUSA SAMPLE INVESTIGATION Dear Colleagues, The JAXA Hayabusa mission returned samples from asteroid Itokawa in June 2010. As you are aware, the samples are not in the condition that was originally anticipated and it has taken some time for the curation activity to ramp up. The HAYABUSA samples are in the form of tiny particles. The Initial Analysis has been performed by the two pre-selected teams and initial results has been published in Science in August 2011. Now things are ready for the 1st International Announcement of Opportunity for HAYABUSA Sample Investigations. JAXA will issue the 1st International Announcement of Opportunity for HAYABUSA Sample Investigations in late January 2012. Those interested in submitting a proposal are invited to visit: https://planetb.sci.isas.jaxa.jp/hayabusa/Pre_AO.php where a preliminary version of the HAYABUSA Investigator's Guidebook is posted. The Guidebook is intended to help researchers cultivate their ideas for proposals while they wait for the release of A/O. Masaki Fujimoto, ISAS, JAXA Chair, Implementation Committee of the 1st International A/O for HAYABUSA Sample Investigation 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 SPACE POLICY INTERNSHIPS AT THE NRC'S SPACE STUDIES BOARD Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internships are offered twice annually in Washington, D.C., by the National Research Council's Space Studies Board. The summer program is restricted to undergraduates, and the autumn program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. The deadline for applications for the summer 2012 program is February 3, 2012. Successful candidates will be contacted by March 2, 2012. Applications for the autumn 2012 program will be accepted from April 1, 2012 until June 1, 2012. Successful candidates will be contacted by July 6, 2012. Additional information about the program, including application procedure, can be found at: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/ssb_052239 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] 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, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals 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 are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions may be submitted by e-mail to nasapostdoc@orau.org 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 OPEN FOR "EXPLORING THE PLANETARY SCIENCE ACHIEVABLE FROM A BALLOON-BASED OBSERVATORY" WORKSHOP Registration is now open for the "Exploring the Planetary Science Achievable from a Balloon-Based Observatory" workshop that will be held at NASA Glenn on January 25-26. Please refer to the website for more information and to register for this important planetary science workshop: http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SSPO/SP/Balloon_Platform/ 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 USGS ASTROGEOLOGY ANNOUNCEMENT TO HIRE A NEW SCIENCE CENTER DIRECTOR The incumbent serves as Director of the Astrogeology Science Center (ASTRO) in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and manages and directs all scientific activities therein. The USGS ASTRO Science Center conducts the major segment of the USGS's program of scientific research into the geologic nature and history of the planets and satellites in the Solar System. The program encompasses a variety of scientific and technical disciplines including geology, geophysics, computer science, cartography, geodesy, space science, physical science, and remote sensing. This interdisciplinary position may be classified in any of the following professional occupational series; General Physical Science GS-1301; Geophysics, GS-1313; Chemistry, GS-1320; Geology, GS-1350. Astronomers and astrophysics will typically apply under General Physical Science (GS 13-01). This opportunity closes 27 Jan 2012. To find a detailed description of this position and additional information on qualifications and application procedures, please click on the USAjobs link below: Former and Current Federal Employees: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/305114500 Non Federal Employees: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetail/305112900 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 [NASA] PDS - LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 8 The NASA Planetary Data System is pleased to announce a new delivery of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data for the following instruments: CRaTER, DLRE, LAMP, LEND, LOLA, LROC and Mini-RF. In general, LRO Release 8 includes data collected between June 15 and September 14, 2011. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20111215.html PDS offers two services for searching the LRO archives: The Planetary Image Atlas at the Imaging Node allows selection of LRO data by specific search criteria: http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/lro/ The Lunar Orbital Data Explorer at the Geosciences Node allows searching and downloading of LRO data and other lunar orbital data sets (Clementine and Lunar Prospector): http://ode.rsl.wustl.edu/moon/ LRO SPICE ancillary data may be obtained here: http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/data_archived.html 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 DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR THE LUNAR EXPLORATION SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is hosting a special summer intern program to evaluate possible landing sites for robotic and human exploration missions. The LPI invites applications from graduate students in geology, planetary science, and related programs. The program is also open to undergraduate students in geology, astronomy, chemistry, and physics with at least 50 semester hours of credit so that they, too, can participate in lunar exploration activities. The goal of this program is to integrate NASA's lunar science priorities with the exploration components of the new exploration program that takes us beyond low-Earth orbit. The program runs from May 29, 2012, through August 3, 2012. Selected interns will receive a $5000.00 stipend to cover the costs associated with being in Houston for the duration of the program. Additionally, U.S. citizens will receive up to $1000.00 in travel expense reimbursement, and foreign nationals will receive up to $1500.00 in travel expense reimbursement. Please pass this information on to any students who might be interested. Application deadline: January 20, 2012 Applications are only accepted using the form at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar_intern/ For more information, contact: Julie Tygielski lunarintern@lpi.usra.edu [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 April 2-4, 2012 Dust and Grains in Low Gravity and Space Environment http://congrex.nl/11M24/ Noordwijk, The Netherlands April 9-10, 2012 The Faint Early Sun: Paradox, Problem, or Distraction? http://www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/faint-sun Baltimore, MD June 3-6, 2012 Transiting Planets in the House of the Sun: A Workshop on M Dwarf Stars and Their Planets http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/FACULTY/GAIDOS/haleakala.html Maui, HI [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. 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). **********************************************************************