PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Number 36 (August 19, 2012) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Melissa Lane Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Volcano-Lithosphere Interactions on the Terrestrial Planets Postdoctoral Fellowship: Lunar and Planetary Institute 2. [NASA] PDS: Dawn GRaND Data Release 3. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 4. Workshop on the Evolution and Constitution of Mercury's Interior 5. DAP-2012 6. 10th Meeting of the Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) 7. [NASA] Announcement of Flight Opportunities #5 Now Open 8. [NASA] American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) Extended Call for Abstracts 9. Lessons Learned in Decadal Planning in Space Science: An NRC Workshop 10. 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 VOLCANO-LITHOSPHERE INTERACTIONS ON THE TERRESTRIAL PLANETS POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP: LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE The Universities Space Research Association - Houston invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in geophysical studies of the growth/evolution of large volcanic edifices and provinces on the terrestrial planets. The candidate will work with Dr. Patrick McGovern exploring mechanical interactions between intrusive and extrusive volcanic edifice growth, lithospheric flexural response, and magma ascent, using numerical modeling techniques, including Finite Element (FEM) and Distinct Element (DEM) Methods. Research will also entail analysis of imagery, topography, gravity, and spectral datasets for large planetary volcanoes in order to constrain the modeling efforts. Potential bodies of interest include Venus, Io, the Moon, Earth, and Mars. Requirements are a recent Ph.D. in geophysics or geology. Experience quantitative modeling of geophysical, geological, or magmatic processes with advanced codes as COMSOL Multiphysics (FEM) and PFC (DEM). Programming languages, MATLAB or FORTRAN 95 desirable. The position is two years with a possible extension to three years. Send letter of interest, curriculum vita with a list of relevant publications, brief statement of research interests, and three references to resume@lpi.usra.edu. Further information may be found at: www.lpi.usra.edu The Universities Space Research Association is an Equal Opportunity 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 [NASA] PDS: DAWN GRAND DATA RELEASE The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce the availability of Dawn GRaND L1a data for the following mission phases: Cruise, Mars Flyby, Vesta Approach, Vesta Survey, and Vesta High Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO). The Dawn GRaND L1a data from the Vesta Low-Altitude Mapping Orbit (LAMO) are coming soon. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/archive/dawn.html 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, exploration systems, lunar science, astrobiology, or astrophysics. 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. Stipends start at $53,500 per year, with supplements for high cost- of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $8,000 per year is provided for professional travel. 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 WORKSHOP ON THE EVOLUTION AND CONSTITUTION OF MERCURY'S INTERIOR October 30, 2012 - November 1, 2012 The workshop Evolution and Constitution of Mercury's Interior will be held on October 30 - November 1, 2012 at the Park Central Hotel in New York, NY. This international meeting will explore recent results from NASA's MESSENGER mission as well as implications for the forthcoming ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission. The workshop is organized around three thematic issues regarding Mercury's interior: * Origin, structure, and bulk composition of Mercury * Evolution of Mercury's crust and mantle * Core evolution and magnetic field generation Registration and additional information is available at: http://bit.ly/mercuryinterior Registration deadline: September 21, 2012. 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 DAP-2012 The Dust, Atmosphere and Plasma: Moon and Small Bodies (DAP-2012) meeting took place in June 6-8, 2012 in Boulder, Colorado. The abstracts and the presentations are now available online: http://lasp.colorado.edu/ccldas/ldap_2012 Please contact the organizers Alan Stern (astern2010@aol.com) or Mihaly Horanyi (horanyi@colorado.edu) if you could not attend but still interested in submitting a contribution on the subject of this meeting to our special issue in Planetary and Space Sciences. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2012. 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 10TH MEETING OF THE VENUS EXPLORATION AND ANALYSIS GROUP (VEXAG) The tenth VEXAG meeting will be held 13-15 November 2012. This 2-1/2 day meeting will be held at or near NASA Headquarters in downtown Washington, DC. The primary objective of this meeting is to review and update the Goals and Objectives for Venus Exploration. Time will be made available for science presentations as well as updates from the community on issues relevant to Venus science and exploration. Please watch for additional information regarding advance registration and meeting details at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag 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] ANNOUNCEMENT OF FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES #5 NOW OPEN Solicitation: NASA Announcement of Flight Opportunities (AFO) for Payloads Maturing Crosscutting Technologies that Advance Multiple Future Space Missions to Flight Readiness Status. Applications due: 5:30 PM ET, September 21, 2012 Selection announcement: November 2012 (target) The solicitation is available at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com Select "Solicitations," then select "Open Solicitations," and, select "NOCT110 Announcement of Flight Opportunities." NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) seeks to mature towards flight readiness status crosscutting technologies that perform relevant environment testing and advance multiple future space missions. To facilitate this goal, NASA is providing access to certain flight opportunities available to the Agency, on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, to entities that have technology payloads meeting specified criteria. The payloads may be exposed to a near-zero or reduced gravity environment by flying on aircraft that provide parabolic flight trajectories and on sRLVs that are potentially capable of flying to altitudes above 100 km. For flight tests that do not require microgravity, but do require the temperature, pressure and atmospheric conditions of high altitudes, balloon flights are available. For specific information on vehicle and flight characteristics refer to: http://flightopportunities.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 [NASA] AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR GRAVITATIONAL AND SPACE RESEARCH (ASGSR) EXTENDED CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Extended due date: August 31, 2012 To submit an ASGSR abstract on-line go to: http://asgsr.org/index.php/2012-asgsr-call-for-abstracts.html The meeting will take place November 28th-December 2, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place. The Life and Physical Sciences community will meet to discuss gravitational and space research in physical phenomena and biological sciences. Joint symposia are planned to discuss interfaces between biological and physical sciences, space health issues from the flight surgeon's perspective, and gravity related issues in life support systems. A draft program can be found at: http://asgsr.org/images/stories/preliminary_conference_program_ june_18_2012.pdf Students are encouraged to submit for poster presentations that will occur Saturday, December 1, 2012. Student poster competition awards will be presented at the Saturday night banquet for the best posters, as judged by a panel of scientists. Students will participate in the competition by presenting their work during scheduled poster sessions. Students can request travel assistance by checking the box on the abstract submittal form. For more information, please contact: Ms. Jobi Cook ASGSR meeting organizer asgsr@rocketmail.com [Edited for length.] 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 LESSONS LEARNED IN DECADAL PLANNING IN SPACE SCIENCE: AN NRC WORKSHOP Join the Space Studies Board (SSB) and the Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA) on November 12-13, 2012, at The National Academies Beckman Center in Irvine, California in a workshop that will identify lessons learned and best practices from the most recent decadal surveys: solar and space physics (2012), planetary science (2011), astronomy and astrophysics (2010), and Earth science and applications from space (2007). The workshop will bring together a variety of stakeholders in the space community both inside and outside of NASA who are impacted by and/or are responsible for the formulation and implementation of the decadal surveys and mid-decade reviews. Development of the workshop is in progress under the auspices of a planning committee appointed by the National Research Council. For more information and to register, go to: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/CurrentProjects/SSB_070954 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 12-13, 2012 Lessons Learned in Decadal Planning in Space Science: A Workshop http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/CurrentProjects/SSB_070954 Irvine, CA November 13-15, 2012 10th Meeting of the Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag Washington, DC November 28-30, 2012 NASA Advisory Council Meeting http://www.nasa.gov/offices/nac/meetings/index.html Huntsville, AL February 4-8, 2013 Magnetic Fields in the Universe IV: From Laboratory and Stars to the Primordial Structures http://www.nucleares.unam.mx/mfu4 Playa del Carmen, Mexico April 15-19, 2013 International Young Astronomer School on Exploiting the Herschel and Planck data (2013) http://ufe.obspm.fr/rubrique344.html Meudon, France [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.php, 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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