PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 10 (March 8, 2026) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Matthew R Perry Co-Editors: Alex Morgan, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor@psi.edu X: @pen2tweets Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [LPSC 2026] Planetary Data System Support at LPSC 2. Reminder: 2026 Planetary Science Community Workshop 3. Texas Area Planetary Science Meeting 4. European Lunar Symposium 2026: Abstract Deadline Extension 5. NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (Semester 2026B) Call for Proposals, Open until April 1 6. 2026 NASA Planetary Science Summer School 7. Announcing a New Scientific Reports Collection: Regolith and Landscape Evolution 8. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 9. Postdoctoral Position in Solar Flare Forecasting using Machine Learning - Lund, Sweden 10. April Planetary Photogrammetry Workshop at the University of Arizona 11. Ocean Worlds Working Group Draft Traceability Available for Community Comment 12. Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series: March 10, Mariana Blanco-Rojas 13. Europa Spatial Data Infrastructure Mailing List 14. [NASA] PDS: OSIRIS-REx Derived Sample Site Products Release 15. [NASA] PDS: Psyche GRNS Release 3 16. [NASA] PDS: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 76 17. [NASA] PDS: Aperiodic PDS Data Releases in 2026.02 18. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 19. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 20. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers Commercial/Fundraising Announcements: C1. Last Chance - Planetary Analog Familiarization Short Course 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 [LPSC 2026] PLANETARY DATA SYSTEM SUPPORT AT LPSC The Planetary Data System (PDS) will host a booth in the LPSC exhibit hall from Monday, March 16 through Thursday, March 19. Staff from the Geosciences, Cartography and Imaging Sciences, and Small Bodies Nodes will be available to answer questions and provide hands-on training with a variety of PDS tools. Attendees are also invited to offer feedback to help PDS better understand the community's current and emerging needs. 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 REMINDER: 2026 PLANETARY SCIENCE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP The 2026 Planetary Science Community Workshop will be held in Louisville, KY, on April 14-16, 2026. This workshop is for professionals working in and around the field of planetary science, including scientists, engineers, students, policy-makers, and industry partners. Although science is core to this workshop, *all* topics of interest to this community are welcome. Confirmed keynote speakers for the Workshop include Rob Lillis (UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory), Elizabeth Frank (Interlune), and Ari Koeppel (The Planetary Society). Registration ($300) will remain open until March 15. To learn more about the workshop and to register, please visit: https://planetaryworkshop.org/ Co-organizers: Paul Byrne (paul.byrne@wustl.edu) and Chase Million (chase@millionconcepts.com) 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 TEXAS AREA PLANETARY SCIENCE MEETING We are excited to announce the fourth Texas Area Planetary Science Meeting (TAPS) taking place on August 20-21, 2026 at The University of Texas at Austin. TAPS aims to strengthen interactions within the Texas planetary-exoplanet science and astrobiology community and foster collaborations and partnerships between industry, institutions and researchers. We encourage Texas-based researchers, faculty, postdocs, and students interested in planetary science, astrobiology, and exoplanet research, as well as space industry partners interested in research-enabling collaboration, to join us for this 2-day event. The meeting will include: - Contributed and invited talks (10 min + Q&A) - Scientific posters and 1-minute lightning talks - Breakfast, Lunch, and refreshment breaks for discussions and networking - Opportunities for space industry sponsorship A short 300-word abstract will be due by June 2026 (exact date forthcoming). Travel support will be offered, with priority given to students and postdocs. Details on the application process will be announced soon. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information. If you have any questions, please contact the meeting organizers at tapsmeeting@gmail.com. Best Regards, TAPS chairs Brett Baker (UT Austin), Romy Hanna (UT Austin), Sean Gulick (UT Austin), and Xinting Yu (UT San Antonio) 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 EUROPEAN LUNAR SYMPOSIUM 2026: ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENSION This is to let you know that the revised deadline for abstract submission to the European Lunar Symposium (ELS) 2026 is Tuesday, 17 March (midnight Pacific Time). The meeting will take place in Nancy, France, June 22-26. The meeting website will be updated in due course, but if you encounter any difficulty in submitting your abstract, please reach out to the meeting organisers. Meeting website: https://sservi.nasa.gov/els2026/ Thank you to all those who have already submitted their abstracts. Best Wishes, Jessica Flahaut and Mahesh Anand (on behalf of ELS Organisers) 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 NASA INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY (SEMESTER 2026B) CALL FOR PROPOSALS, OPEN UNTIL APRIL 1 The Call for Proposals for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) is open March 1 until April 1, 5pm Hawaii Standard Time. https://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/observing/callforproposals/ Proposals can be submitted to utilize a range of instruments spanning 0.4um to 25um, providing a range of spectroscopic modes with low resolution of 50 to high resolution of 85,000, and imaging modes with broad and narrow band filters. IRTF supports many planetary science programs covering all kinds of Solar System bodies, investigating the atmospheres of giant planets, characterizing small bodies and much more. 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 2026 NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE SUMMER SCHOOL Apply by March 23, 2026 for NASA's 38th Annual Planetary Science Summer School (PSSS), offered by JPL in Pasadena, CA. This 3-month early career program prepares the next generation of planetary science and engineering mission leaders through hands-on mission design experience in a concurrent engineering environment. To attend the PSSS Pre-application Q&A Webinar on March 4, 2026, from 2:30 - 3:30 pm Pacific Time, please register at: https://forms.gle/8UdH9ruNyvrY5TPR8 For eligibility requirements, to apply, and learn more about the NASA Science Mission Design Schools, please visit: https://go.nasa.gov/missiondesignschools [Edited for length] 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 ANNOUNCING A NEW SCIENTIFIC REPORTS COLLECTION: REGOLITH AND LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION This Collection offers a platform for original, integrative, and multidisciplinary research on regolith and landscape evolution. Including Earth, but also studies on lunar, Martian, and other planetary regolith. Regolith - the loose, unconsolidated material covering solid rock - plays a central role in surface evolution on Earth and other planetary bodies. Formed through weathering and erosion, it influences geomorphology, environmental processes, and resource exploration. In the case of Earth, it further contributes to soil development, hydrology, and ecosystem dynamics. In the case of the Moon or Mars, it further contributes to the future exploration, either robotic or by humans. In the case of all Solar System bodies, it furthers our understanding of common evolutionary processes, and highlights those that are unique to each world. Understanding regolith and landscape evolution reveals planetary histories and informs land use, sustainable management, environmental resilience, and exploration. Information about the collection can be found at: https://www.nature.com/collections/idiebajfdd Or contact guest editors Raul Devrani (rahul.devrani@jgu.edu.in), Chunyu Ding (dingchunyu@szu.edu.cn), Deborah Domingue (domingue@psi.edu), and Miranda Fateri (miranda.fateri@hs-aalen.de). For more information about Nature's Scientific Reports go to: https://www.nature.com/srep/about 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 GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The March image of the month is now available on the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: https://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com This month's topic is "Ancient climbing dune-fields in Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars", contributed by Dr. Matt Telfer, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Plymouth, UK. You can follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/planetarygeomorph.bsky.social or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology Best wishes, Lonneke Roelofs (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group) 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 POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN SOLAR FLARE FORECASTING USING MACHINE LEARNING - LUND, SWEDEN The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Lund, Sweden, focused on developing forecasting models for solar flares using machine learning. Solar storms are a key research topic in solar physics and space weather. They occur when energy stored in complex solar magnetic fields is rapidly released, producing phenomena such as solar flares, energetic particles, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These events can affect technological systems in space and on Earth, making improved forecasting an important scientific and societal challenge. The project will analyze time series of solar magnetic fields in active regions, primarily using data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Based on vector magnetograms and derived parameters, datasets will be constructed and machine learning methods applied to develop solar flare prediction models. The goal is to identify magnetic properties relevant to flare production and contribute to forecasting tools for space weather services. The successful candidate will join IRF's Solar, Space and Atmospheric Research (STAR) programme within an international research environment. Position duration: 3 years Location: Lund, Sweden Further information and application details: https://www.irf.se/karriar/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 APRIL PLANETARY PHOTOGRAMMETRY WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Registration is now open for the Planetary Data Training Workshop in Planetary Photogrammetry held April 21-24, 2026, at the University of Arizona's Space Imagery Center. The registration deadline is April 3, 2026. In this workshop we introduce the basic principles of photogrammetry and the skills necessary to make a Digital Terrain Model from stereo image pairs. Participants will go through the process of creating a DTM and orthorectified images with a HiRISE stereo pair using BAE's SOCET SET software and 3D hardware. We will also cover the use of Ames Stereo Pipeline and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) using Agisoft Metashape. The workshop is intended for researchers at any level who want to learn to generate their own stereo products. No prior expertise is required. Two travel grants are available for attendants. For more information and to register and apply for travel grants, please follow the links at: https://sic.lpl.arizona.edu/planetary-photogrammetry-workshops 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 OCEAN WORLDS WORKING GROUP DRAFT TRACEABILITY AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY COMMENT The Ocean Worlds Working Group (OWWG) has released a draft traceability matrix that defines the OWWG's driving science questions for future Ocean Worlds exploration, and the science investigations, measurements, instruments, and technology needs that flow from them. We are looking for community input on the draft, which is now posted on the OWWG website under Documents: https://workforce.psi.edu/owwg/ Please return all feedback to Cynthia and Mike by Wednesday April 8, either by marking up the PDF using the comment tool, or via text comments in an email referencing the appropriate question numbers. Thanks, Cynthia Phillips (cynthia.b.phillips@jpl.nasa.gov) and Mike Bland (mbland@usgs.gov) 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 ICE GIANT SYSTEMS SEMINAR SERIES: MARCH 10, MARIANA BLANCO-ROJAS Date/Time: March 10, 11am ET Speaker: Mariana Blanco-Rojas (Purdue) Topic: Oberon and the Case for Elevated Ancient Heat Flux in the Uranian System The Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series showcases recent developments in scientific topics covering all aspects of the ice giant systems, including atmospheres, satellites, rings, magnetic fields, interior structures, and science related to formation and evolution. To access the virtual seminar, view the seminar schedule, and sign up for the listserv, visit the series website: https://icegiantsseminar.jhuapl.edu Stephanie Menten & Jodi Berdis 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 EUROPA SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE MAILING LIST The Europa Spatial Data Infrastructure team has established a mailing list to facilitate communication around issues related to creating, archiving, finding, and using spatial data for Europa. Topics can include new spatial data products, challenges to using existing products, appropriate datums and other standards and formats, improving adherence to FAIR data principles, and potential new collaborations. We encourage data producers, data users, software developers, and standards and policy experts to participate. Join the mailing list at: https://groups.google.com/g/europa-sdi Please direct questions to Michael Bland (mbland@usgs.gov), Cynthia Phillips (cynthia.b.phillips@jpl.nasa.gov), Ross Beyer (rbeyer@seti.org), and Paul Schenk (schenk@lpi.usra.edu) 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 [NASA] PDS: OSIRIS-REX DERIVED SAMPLE SITE PRODUCTS RELEASE This is the release of the OSIRIS-REx Derived Sample Site Products Bundle. This bundle contains detailed catalogs created during the Sample Site Selection Phase of the OSIRIS-REx mission. Each catalog features geospatial maps with comparative visualizations across all candidate sites. These catalogs are decisional products, and as such are historical documents. They are not final curated science products. These data are available directly at https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:orex.sample_site Links to all OSIRIS-REx bundles are at: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260127.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov/ 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 [NASA] PDS: PSYCHE GRNS RELEASE 3 This release of Psyche Mission data includes the following data, with data coverage 2025-07-01 through 2025-09-30. Cruise data will continue to be released approximately quarterly. - Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) raw cruise data - Neutron Spectrometer (NS) raw cruise data The data may be accessed from https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260227b.shtml Or more directly at: https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:psyche.grs https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:psyche.ns 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 [NASA] PDS: MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 76 The NASA Planetary Data System announces Release 76 of data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). This release contains raw, calibrated, and derived data products nominally covering the time period May 9 through August 8, 2025. Some instrument teams are delivering more recent data. The data are archived at various PDS nodes. - CRISM, SHARAD, and Radio Science data at the Geosciences Node - HiRISE, CTX, and MARCI data at the Cartography and Imaging Sciences Node - MCS data at the Atmospheres Node - SPICE data at the NAIF Node For a view centered on this release https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260227.shtml The data may also be accessed at https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/mro/ To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be found at: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: https://pds.nasa.gov/ MRO data releases occur every three months. The next release is scheduled for June 1, 2026. 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 [NASA] PDS: APERIODIC PDS DATA RELEASES IN 2026.02 In February 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released: Voyager 2 - Magnetometer Neptune Encounter Data Bundle - Magnetometer Saturn Encounter Data Bundle - Magnetometer Uranus Encounter Data Bundle - PLS Saturn Encounter Data Bundle - Jupiter Low Energy Charged Particle Data Bundle - Saturn Low Energy Charged Particle Data Bundle New Horizons - SDC Post-Launch Checkout Raw Data - SDC Post-Launch Checkout Calibrated Data - SDC Jupiter Encounter Raw Data - SDC Jupiter Encounter Calibrated Data - SDC Pluto Cruise Raw Data - SDC Pluto Cruise Calibrated Data - SDC KEM1 Cruise Raw Data - SDC KEM1 Cruise Calibrated Data - REX Pluto Encounter Raw Data - REX Pluto Encounter Calibrated Data - REX Pluto Encounter Tracking and Navigation Files Other - Juno JIRAM Derived Bundle - Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) Documents - Radar shape model of asteroid (99942) Apophis - ExoMars2016 SPICE Release 16 - Mars 2020: Sample Dossier - Voyager 1 Jupiter Low Energy Charged Particle Data Bundle - MESSENGER EPPS FIPS Derived To access those data: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260228.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov 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: Many face-to-face meetings going forward will have online components. Check their websites for details. Posted at https://planetarynews.org/meetings.html August 20-21, 2026 Texas Area Planetary Science Meeting (TAPS) https://sites.google.com/view/tapsmeeting/home Austin, TX 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 Access Papers Editor, Brian Jackson https://psj.aas.org Hydration Features on Near-Earth Objects: Integrating New Data with Prior Results L. E. McGraw et al. 2026 PSJ 7:55 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae3de0 Evidence of Recent Material Transport within a Binary Asteroid System J. M. Sunshine et al. 2026 PSJ 7:56 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae3f27 The Fate of Frozen Carbonated Water at Europa-like Conditions Swaroop Chandra et al. 2026 PSJ 7:57 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae469a Not Earth-like yet Temperate? More Generic Climate Feedback Configurations Still Allow Temperate Climates in Habitable Zone Exo- Earth Candidates Chaucer Langbert and Daniel Apai 2026 PSJ 7:58 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae4503 20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20 JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH: PLANETS - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access (OA) Papers Editors-in-Chief, Amanda Hendrix & Debra Buczkowski https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21699100 Controls on Iron-Redox State in Martian Magmas Quantified by Mossbauer Spectroscopy, Colorimetric Wet Chemistry, and XANES Spectroscopy S. P. Aithala, R. A. Lange, M. M. Hirschmann https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009148 Exploring Terrestrial Lava Tubes as Martian Analogs (I): Multi-Analytical Study of Mineralization Processes in Cueva del Vidrio, La Palma (Canary Islands) F. Alberquilla et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009515 Measurements of Dielectric Properties of Chang'E-5 Lunar Samples Yuhang Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009466 Passive Microwave Radiometry and Active Radar Sounding as Complementary Tools for Geophysical Investigations of Icy Ocean Worlds Natalie S. Wolfenbarger et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009301 Can Structural Tilt Be Measured From Exhumed Channel Belts on Mars? Numerical Experiments Using Analog Alluvial Strata Benjamin T. Cardenas et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009482 *********************************************************************** COMMERCIAL/FUNDRAISING ANNOUNCEMENTS *********************************************************************** C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1 LAST CHANCE - PLANETARY ANALOG FAMILIARIZATION SHORT COURSE We're closing in fast on our March 27 Lunar, Planetary, and Spaceflight Analog familiarization short course in Texas and New Mexico. This is perfect for engineers, flight controllers, and managers who need a taste of the geologic exploration that Artemis astronauts will soon be doing on the Moon. Register this week at: https://www.areslearning.com/earthandspace Questions? Contact Kirby Runyon at kirby@planex.space. *********************************************************************** * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at https://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to https://planetarynews.org and click on Subscribe. * * An unsubscribe option is available at the end of every PEN email. Or * send an email to pen_editor@psi.edu * * 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. Go to https://planetarynews.org/submission.html for * complete submission directions. * * PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute * (https://www.psi.edu) using no NASA funds. All editorial work is * volunteer. ***********************************************************************