PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 17, Number 13 (March 26, 2023) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes, Co-Editors: Matthew R. Perry, Alex Morgan Email: pen_editor@psi.edu Twitter: @pen2tweets o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Editorial: Congress Needs to Intervene in the Management of NASA Planetary Science 2. Call to Action: Petition Congress for 2029 Launch Date for VERITAS 3. Titan Through Time Meeting Update 4. Job Opportunity: Software Engineer III for Small-Body Ephemeris Development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 5. Workshop on Impact Processes as a Path to Habitability on Planetary Bodies 6. [NASA] ROSES-23: New Opportunity C.24 "Here to Observe" Program for NASA's Planetary Science Division 7. [NASA] Sixth Community Announcement: Advance Notice Regarding Forthcoming Release of the New Frontiers 5 (NF5) Announcement of Opportunity (AO) 8. NEOWISE 2023 Data Release 9. UTCT X-Ray Computed Tomography Short Course June 28-30, 2023 10. Culturally Inclusive Planetary Engagement Workshops 11. Hybrid Science Lecture with Updates from JWST, April 6 12. Job Announcement: Life Detection Scientist at NASA GSFC 13. Space Tourism Conference: Bridging the Technical-Leisure Divide 14. Opportunity for Science Community Involvement in a Mars Sample Return Measurement Definition Team 15. $1000 Minigrants to Support Women and Girls in Astronomy 16. Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) Steering Committee (SC) Positions 17. Visiting Assistant Professor at Wesleyan University 18. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 19. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 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 EDITORIAL: CONGRESS NEEDS TO INTERVENE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE Threats to New Horizons, VERITAS, NEO Surveyor, and other missions due to managerial missteps by the Biden administration need to be addressed by Congress. For the full editorial, please go to: https://planetarynews.org/editorials/230326.html Mark V. Sykes [Opinions expressed are those of the author and not the Planetary Science Institute] 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 CALL TO ACTION: PETITION CONGRESS FOR 2029 LAUNCH DATE FOR VERITAS The VERITAS team needs your help. NASA selected VERITAS in June 2021 and then put the mission on hold this past November despite us being on time and on budget. Now we are scheduled to launch "no earlier than 2031". To maintain our schedule as much as possible, we are working to petition Congress to stipulate a 2029 launch date for VERITAS. If you are willing and able, please read and sign the petition to our elected officials: https://secure.planetary.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=/actioncenter#/35 We realize that many are unable to participate in this petition given your affiliations, but please share this with any U.S. friends and amily you may have who are able to do so. If you would like more information about the situation VERITAS finds itself in, please feel free to reach out to me or anyone else on the VERTIAS team. Thank you for your support, Jenny Whitten she/her Associate Deputy PI of VERITAS jwhitten1@tulane.edu [Editor Note: Even civil servants in the US have a right to engage in free speech and solicit Congress as private individuals] 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 TITAN THROUGH TIME MEETING #6 UPDATE The website for the next Titan Through Time meeting in Paris is now officially online, as well as the opportunity to register and submit an abstract. Go to: https://sites.google.com/view/titanthroughtimeparis2023/home You will find information on the location of the meeting, a few first hints for the logistics, and a dedicated page for registration and contribution submission (oral or poster). The meeting will be full-hybrid, but only remote oral presentation will be available. The deadline for registration and abstract submission is fixed on April 15. The program will soon follow. Please keep tuned on the website as we will continue on populating it with new information on a regular basis. We are sincerely looking forward seeing you all in Paris next June. Sebastien Rodriguez, for the LOC and SOC of the TTT #6 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 JOB OPPORTUNITY: SOFTWARE ENGINEER III FOR SMALL-BODY EPHEMERIS DEVELOPMENT AT THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY JPL's Solar System Dynamics (SSD: ssd.jpl.nasa.gov) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS: cneos.jpl.nasa.gov) are looking for an experienced IT professional interested in supporting our mission of providing high-quality orbital data for Solar-System objects. More information is available at: https://tinyurl.com/4dnb9y4s 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 WORKSHOP ON IMPACT PROCESSES AS A PATH TO HABITABILITY ON PLANETARY BODIES This workshop will be held in Campinas, Brazil, on June 26-28, 2023. Sponsorship for the meeting has been provided by FAPESP (Sao Paulo Research Foundation) and Unicamp (State University of Campinas), that will allow the registration to be free of charge. The workshop will be by invitation only, so please email the main organizer, Alvaro Crosta (crosta@unicamp.br), if you would like to be invited, and include the topic of your contribution. There will be an optional field trip (June 29-July 3) to visit two impact structures in southern Brazil, Vargeao and Vista Alegre. Scope of workshop: Large cosmic impacts are among the key geological processes potentially leading to the establishment of habitable conditions in planetary bodies. This meeting is intended to discuss recent advances in understanding the role of impacts in creating potential life-harboring environments in icy and rocky planetary bodies, with a special focus on icy moons such as Titan and Europa. Alvaro Crosta (University of Campinas, Brazil) Rosaly Lopes (NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA) Catherine Neish (University of Western Ontario, Canada) 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] ROSES-23: NEW OPPORTUNITY C.24 "HERE TO OBSERVE" PROGRAM FOR NASA'S PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION C.24 Here to Observe (H2O) solicits proposals from non-R1 institutions for undergraduate students to observe NASA Planetary Science Division (PSD) mission meetings/activities alongside mentors and peers. By opening doors to PSD missions and sharing the excitement of planetary exploration, H2O's goal is to spark and maintain an interest for underrepresented students considering STEM careers. Proposing institutions are expected to accommodate core, NASA-led program activities (such as workshops, seminars and field trips) and describe other proposed supplemental activities that will be finalized in a co-creation period with participating PSD missions. Additionally, NASA will provide optional, self-guided educational packages that introduce participating students to Solar System science/exploration and NASA systems engineering. Participation is limited to undergraduates and faculty from U.S.-based institutions and to U.S. citizens and green card holders to ensure NASA compliance with ITAR and EAR rules as export-controlled materials could be presented in PSD mission meetings. This program element does not have a proposal due date, proposals may be submitted at any time. Go to: https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2023 Questions concerning C.24 H2O may be directed to David J. Smith at HQ-H2O@mail.nasa.gov. 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] SIXTH COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT: ADVANCE NOTICE REGARDING FORTHCOMING RELEASE OF THE NEW FRONITERS 5 (NF5) ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY (AO) SAM.gov Special Notice ID Number: NNH20ZDA016L Release of the draft AO: January 10, 2023 (actual) Estimated Release of final AO: November 2023 (target) Estimated Proposal due date: March 2024 (target) NASA has assessed the availability and readiness of RPS technologies for the NF5 AO. Based on this assessment, NASA has made the following decisions to provide the lowest risk to proposers: * The NF5 AO will offer up to two fueled Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) units for proposals requiring radioisotope electrical power for spacecraft. * The NF5 AO will offer up to twenty fueled radioisotope heater units (RHUs) for proposals requiring thermal heating for specific spacecraft components. For further information, go to: https://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/NF5 Questions and feedback may be emailed using "6th CA for NF5" in the subject line to Dr. Curt Niebur, the New Frontiers Program Lead Scientist, via curt.niebur@nasa.gov. 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 NEOWISE 2023 DATA RELEASE The Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) and IPAC at the California Institute of Technology announce the NEOWISE 2023 Data Release. The 2023 Release includes data acquired during the ninth year of the NEOWISE Reactivation mission (Mainzer et al. 2014, ApJ, 792, 30), 13 December 2021 to 13 December 2022. These data are combined with those from Years 1-8 into a single archive that contains ~22.9 million sets of 3.4 and 4.6 micron images and a database of ~171 billion source detections. NEOWISE scanned the sky ~18 times during the first nine years of survey operations, with approximately six months between survey passes. With twelve or more independent exposures are made on each sky position during each epoch, the NEOWISE archive is a time-domain resource for extracting multiple, independent thermal flux and position measurements of Solar System small bodies and background galactic and extragalactic sources. A guide to the NEOWISE data release, data access instructions, and supporting documentation is available at: https://wise2.ipac.caltech.edu/docs/release/neowise/ NEOWISE is a joint project of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Planetary Science Division. 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 UTCT X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SHORT COURSE JUNE 28-30, 2023 The University of Texas X-ray CT Facility (UTCT), a NASA Planetary Science Enabling Facility, will host its annual short course on the acquisition, visualization, and analysis of X-ray CT (XCT) data June 28-30, 2023 in Austin, TX. This course presents an overview of the acquisition and interpretation of XCT data, followed by hands-on training in 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of discrete geological features (e.g., clasts, mineral grains, pores) and fabrics. Funds are available to help cover the cost of lodging and meals and there is no charge to attend. Preference is given to applicants with a demonstrated need for immediate application of the skills learned. Participants are invited to bring their own XCT data or have samples scanned (at a discount) at UTCT prior to the course. To apply email Dr. Romy Hanna (romy@jsg.utexas.edu) by Friday, April 28, that outlines (limit ~300 words): 1. Relevant biographical information (academic affiliations and status as student or faculty/staff); 2. The type of sample(s) that you aim to analyze and your research objectives; 3. Whether you have sample(s) that you would like to have scanned at UTCT For more information about UTCT visit: https://www.ctlab.geo.utexas.edu 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE PLANETARY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS Conducted by the NASA SMD Science Activation Planetary Resources and Content Heroes (ReaCH) project. Planetary scientists and astrobiologists (including graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, engineers and technicians) and informal (out-of-school time) educators are invited to apply to attend a 2023 Culturally Inclusive Planetary Engagement professional development workshop: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/planetary-reach/workshops/ During the workshops, scientists and educators are paired together and supported in bi-directional conversations around diversity and inclusion in engaging Black and Latinx audiences in planetary science. Participants also lead hands-on activities during a co-designed public engagement event following the workshop held in collaboration with a local youth-serving organization. The event allows workshop participants the opportunity to practice engagement strategies discussed in the workshop. Confirmed 2023 workshop locations and dates: New Orleans, LA (Tulane University; June 8-10) Mountain View, CA (SETI Institute; June 22-24) Miami, FL (Perez Art Museum Miami; August 17-19) Space in each workshop is limited to 10 planetary scientists/astrobiologists and 10 informal educators. Stipends are available for participants able to accept them. Questions? Please contact Andy Shaner at shaner@lpi.usra.edu. The Planetary Resources and Content Heroes (ReaCH) project is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number 80NSSC21M0003. 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 HYBRID SCIENCE LECTURE WITH UPDATES FROM JWST, APRIL 6 Join the LPI for a hybrid presentation (in-person and online) by Dr. Ian Wong of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Wong will provide a high-level overview of some of the highlights from the first year of JWST Solar System observations and discuss how these results will revolutionize our understanding of Solar System formation and evolution. This event will be held in-person and online on Thursday, April 6. The presentation will begin at 7:30PM CT (8:30PM ET/ 6:30PM MT/ 5:30PM PT). Learn more: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/features/2023/032223/cess/ 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE DETECTION SCIENTIST AT NASA GSFC The Astrochemistry Laboratory of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is seeking a full-time research scientist specializing in life detection science who would work to connect theories of life and biological search patterns to measurable parameters and contribute to future mission concepts. The successful candidate will work closely with life detection instrument technology developers to conceive of measurement approaches that are well connected to fundamental, robust theories or models of biology and life signatures. This research position entails developing productive collaborative relationships, leading ground-breaking research, and providing input into future mission/instrument design. This is a GS-13/14 level civil servant position located at NASA-Goddard in Greenbelt, Maryland near Washington, DC. A full vacancy announcement, which contains further information including qualification requirements and application instructions, will be posted later this spring at: htps://www.usajobs.gov For additional information contact: Dr. Natasha Johnson, natasha.m.johnson@nasa.gov 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 SPACE TOURISM CONFERENCE: BRIDGING THE TECHNICAL-LEISURE DIVIDE The Space Tourism Conference (STC) presents the cross-section of industries comprising space tourism: aerospace, media, entertainment, architecture, design, advertising, marketing, finance, high tech, science, manufacturing, futurism and the arts. Join STC this year on April 28 in Los Angeles near LAX airport to hear from private-sector astronauts, entertainers, travel experts, engineers, and yes--planetary scientists. Tickets on sale now at: https://www.spacetourismconf.com/ 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 OPPORTUNITY FOR SCIENCE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN A MARS SAMPLE RETURN MEASUREMENT DEFINITION TEAM NASA and ESA are planning to charter a Measurement Definition Team (MDT) to assess the measurement and instrumentation needs for the high-containment Mars Sample Return Sample Receiving Project facility to process samples brought back from Mars and accomplish sample safety assessment, curation, and science. There will be an open call for membership, and early career individuals are encouraged to apply. We expect the applications for this committee to be accepted in late spring 2023, with an anticipated committee timeline between September 2023 and July 2024. If you are interested in receiving more information as it becomes available, please register your interest at: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system The link title is: Mars Sample Receiving Project Measurement Definition Team 1 - Indication of Interest Note: emails are only being collected for the purpose of sharing information about this MDT, and the list will be deleted once the group has been formed. 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 $1000 MINIGRANTS TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ASTRONOMY The Women and Girls in Astronomy Project (WGAP) will target aspiring astronomers and current professionals alike, establishing a network to uplift, educate, connect with, and provide opportunities to women and girls. Ten unique astronomy projects will be selected and awarded $1,000 USD mini-grants. The projects must take place in Canada, United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, or Greenland. Projects are encouraged to approach astronomy from a unique lens, including, but not limited to, scientific, social, technical, cultural, and artistic perspectives. Read more and find out how to apply at: https://tinyurl.com/2kw4xcpn 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE (SC) POSITIONS SBAG seeks applications for the SC (3-year terms). The SC organizes SBAG meetings, writes official findings, and takes a leadership role in other activities where community input is needed. 1. Human Exploration Lead: An individual actively involved in studying human exploration, aware of current challenges and advances in the field, to lead SBAG activities relevant to human exploration. 2. Early Career Secretary (2.5-yr term): A person to support the SC in all aspects of its meetings and operation, with <3 years experience after a terminal degree. 3. Three at-large members: Any small bodies community member from any career stage is welcome. The application requires: 1) a two-page CV, including a description of participation in SBAG or other small bodies organizations, 2) a short (300 words maximum) statement of interest. Criteria for selection includes participation in small bodies community organizations, leadership experience, and relevant research/mission experience. In support of diversity, applicants may specify gender, whether they belong to an underrepresented group in STEM, or other relevant information. E-mail applications to Lori Feaga (feaga@astro.umd.edu) by May 5, 2023, 8:00 PM EDT. New members will be announced at the 29th Meeting of SBAG (July). 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY Wesleyan University's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (E&ES) invites applications for a one-year full-time Visiting Assistant Professor of E&ES, beginning as early as September 1, 2023. The position is for one year and is renewable for up to three years depending on performance and the curricular needs of the department. We invite applications from candidates specializing in the remote sensing and morphology of planetary surfaces, however candidates with a focus in any field of Planetary Geosciences will be considered. The teaching load is 3/2, or equivalent, in person on Wesleyan's campus. Wesleyan is a highly selective liberal arts university that values both scholarship and teaching very highly, has a strong, diverse undergraduate student body. Applications completed by April 1 will receive full consideration. Please contact Martha Gilmore at mgilmore@wesleyan.edu if you have questions about the position or application process. https://careers.wesleyan.edu/postings/9495 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Note: Most face-to-face meetings going forward will have online components. Check their websites for details. Posted at https://planetarynews.org/meetings.html April 28, 2023 Space Tourism Conference: Bridging the Technical-Leisure Divide https://www.spacetourismconf.com/ Los Angeles, CA June 8-10, 2023 2023 Culturally Inclusive Planetary Engagement Workshop https://www.lpi.usra.edu/planetary-reach/workshops/nola/ New Orleans, LA June 13-15, 2023 Titan Through Time VI https://sites.google.com/view/titanthroughtimeparis2023/home Paris, France June 22-24, 2023 2023 Culturally Inclusive Planetary Engagement Workshop https://www.lpi.usra.edu/planetary-reach/workshops/seti/ Mountain View, CA August 17-19, 2023 2023 Culturally Inclusive Planetary Engagement Workshop https://www.lpi.usra.edu/planetary-reach/workshops/miami Miami, FL December 11-15, 2023 9th Annual Science at Low Frequencies (SALF) Conference https://tinyurl.com/3xweehvz Amsterdam, The Netherlands [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop that you think your colleagues should be aware of, please send the date, title, URL and location to pen_editor@psi.edu.] 19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Source Papers Editor, Faith Vilas https://psj.aas.org The Role of Sulfate in Cation Exchange Reactions: Applications to Clay-Brine Interactions on Mars Christopher Geyer et al. 2023 PSJ 4:48 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acba97 Taxonomic Classification of Asteroids Using the KMTNet Multiband Photometry Data Set Sangho Choi et al. 2023 PSJ 4:49 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aca7c8 The Influence of Cloud Condensation Nucleus Coagulation on the Venus Cloud Structure Kevin McGouldrick and Erika L. Barth 2023 PSJ 4:50 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbdf8 Modeling the Formation of Selk Impact Crater on Titan: Implications for Dragonfly Shigeru Wakita et al. 2023 PSJ 4:51 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbe40 Grain Size Effects on Visible and Near-infrared (0.35-2.5 um) Laboratory Spectra of Ordinary Chondrite and HED Meteorites Bryn Bowen et al. 2023 PSJ 4:52 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acb268 Strong Depletion of 13C in CO Induced by Photolysis of CO2 in the Martian Atmosphere, Calculated by a Photochemical Model Tatsuya Yoshida et al. 2023 PSJ 4:53 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acc030 *********************************************************************** * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at https://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your email address, go to * https://planetarynews.org/pen_subscribe.php. * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor@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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