PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 12 (March 22, 2026) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Matthew R Perry, Alex Morgan Email: pen_editor@psi.edu X: @pen2tweets Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] Research Security Training Requirement for Federal Financial Assistance Funding 2. Call for Papers for Science Ascend 13th Issue (July 2026) 3. OoLEN Early Career Network Conference 4. [NASA] PDS: Mars Science Laboratory Release 41 5. PhD in Molecular Astrophysics (Astrochemistry) and Star Formation (4 years) 6. Postdoc in Molecular Astrophysics (Astrochemistry) with JWST (1 year) 7. Postdoc in Molecular Astrophysics (Astrochemistry) with JWST (3 years) 8. NAU's Radiant Center for Remote Sensing Instrument Engineer Hires (2-4) 9. Celebration of the Career of Jerry Schubert 10. SpaceCHI 2026 Conference at NASA Ames 11. Science with the Hubble & James Webb Space Telescopes VIII 12. Outer Planets Assessment Group Updates 13. IRTF Call for Proposals Open Until April 1, 5PM HST 14. What Tools, Resources, and Opportunities have been Foundational in your Development as an Astrobiologist? 15. Call for Abstracts: ACS 2026 Fall Session on Deep Planetary Chemistry 16. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 17. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 18. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - 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 [NASA] RESEARCH SECURITY TRAINING REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING Grant Information Circular (GIC) 26-02 "Research Security Training Requirements" states that starting August 5, 2026, covered individuals on federal financial assistance awards, that is only grants and cooperative agreements applicants/recipients, must certify to NASA they have taken research security training prior to submission of proposals. Go to: https://tinyurl.com/3ppd8juu This training requirement and certification does not apply to civil servants and contractors who propose to or are funded by NASA. Potential proposers for NASA financial assistance funding are encouraged to take the training (see #2 below) well in advance of the proposal due date. Questions may be directed to: hq-dl-grants-policy-compliance@mail.nasa.gov and hq-researchsecurity@mail.nasa.gov. [Edited for length] 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 FOR PAPERS FOR SCIENCE ASCEND 13TH ISSUE (JULY 2026) Science Ascend (ISSN: 3062-0090) is a non-peer-reviewed, free-to-submit and free-to-read scientific journal on astrophysics research, people, and tools. It began as a weekly journal, but starting with the 11th issue, it has been published biannually. The 13th issue will be published at the beginning of July 2026. This announcement is a Call for Papers with content not published elsewhere. Relevant paper structures include focused short literature reviews, lecture notes, opinion articles, interviews, outreach, and research reports. Further details and previous issues can be found here: https://fire-ae.org/ascend.html Science Ascend will collect finished papers till June 18, 2026. Before completing a paper and submitting it, it is required to reach out to Editor-in-Chief Guray Hatipoglu via info@fire-ae.org with a title for the work and its summary. The same e-mail will be used for submitting papers. 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 OOLEN EARLY CAREER NETWORK CONFERENCE To all early career scientists working in the area of origin of life, early earth, prebiotic chemistry, and related subjects, Origin of Life Early career Network (OoLEN) is hosting a conference September 9-11 in Tokyo at the ELSI Institute. Abstract submission is now open: https://shorturl.at/cPAnd The deadline is April 15 and is free of charge. Registration is 3000 yen / 17 euro / 19 USD. Travel and accommodations must be covered by the participant. The objectives are dissemination of research and generation of collaboration and networking partnerships between early career scientists and researchers. For questions, please email Anastasia Yanchilina, ayanchilina@seti.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 [NASA] PDS: MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY RELEASE 41 The NASA Planetary Data System announces Release of data from the MSL Curiosity Rover mission to Mars. This release contains raw, calibrated, and derived data products covering sols 4613 through 4709, July 28, 2025 - Nov 5, 2025. The data are archived at various PDS Nodes. Links to all the archives can be found at: https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/msl/index.htm For a dataset-oriented perspective go to: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260317.shtml Data from the following science investigations are included in this release: APXS, ChemCam, CheMin, DAN, Engineering Cameras, MAHLI, MARDI, Mastcam, RAD, REMS, SAM, SPICE The ChemCam RDR release is delayed due to a delay in funding. The CheMin RDR release also includes data from the release 40 sol range (sols 4489-4612) that were delayed due to the government shutdown. 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 PHD IN MOLECULAR ASTROPHYSICS (ASTROCHEMISTRY) AND STAR FORMATION (4 YEARS) Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DCBP), Universitat Bern (UniBe), Switzerland. How chemically complex do molecules in star-forming regions get and how do they form? Unbiased spectral surveys executed with the most powerful interferometers such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) allow us to robustly identify 100s of molecules and constrain their abundances in regions containing infant stars. The first goal is to observationally study star-forming regions with ALMA, in order to identify chemically complex molecules, their isotopologs, and their abundances. The second goal is to model the physical processes of star and protoplanetary disk formation alongside chemical process that produce and destroy complex organic molecules. ALMA data and initial modelling framework are already available. By the end of the project, you are expected to defend your PhD thesis and emerge with dual expertise in, both, radio observations and physicochemical modelling. You will immediately become part of international consortia with ample opportunity to collaborate and build your network. This is a fixed-term, 4-year position funded by the European Research Council (ERC) 2025 Consolidator Grant (CoG). Apply by March 31, 2026 for full consideration. https://eas.unige.ch/jobs.jsp?type=phd&id=2145 [Edited for length] 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 POSTDOC IN MOLECULAR ASTROPHYSICS (ASTROCHEMISTRY) WITH JWST (1 YEAR) Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DCBP), Universitat Bern (UniBe), Switzerland What is the chemical composition of interstellar ices in molecular clouds, protostellar regions, and protoplanetary disks? With JWST, this can now be determined at an unprecedented accuracy. The idea is to assemble an inventory of interstellar ice species and their abundances across the full evolutionary range of star- and planet-forming regions. Upon agreement, a specific evolutionary stage and corresponding JWST data set will be selected for a focused project achievable within the 1-yr timeframe. This is a short-term (1-yr with a potential extension depending on funding) postdoc opportunity. Ample support will be provided for such pursuits of independent funding. As a more senior member of the group, you will be given significant autonomy and will help develop future research areas. You will have the opportunity to become part of international consortia with many opportunities to collaborate and expand your network. The initial fixed-term, 1-year position is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) 2025 Consolidator Grant (CoG). Apply by March 31, 2026 for full consideration. https://eas.unige.ch/jobs.jsp?type=job&id=2146 [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 POSTDOC IN MOLECULAR ASTROPHYSICS (ASTROCHEMISTRY) WITH JWST (3 YEARS) Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DCBP), Universitat Bern (UniBe), Switzerland What sets the chemical composition of planet-forming materials? By studying the composition of the earliest sites of star and planet formation with JWST, we can begin to unravel how natal environments predetermine planetary composition. The goal is to observationally study prestellar cores and protostellar environments with JWST, in order to obtain a chemical inventory of the interstellar ices therein. To start, NIRCAM and NIRSpec data are already available for reduction and analysis. Of particular interest to the project are complex organic species and their precursors. Over the course of the project, emphasis will be placed on securing statistically significant samples. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will be given significant autonomy and will help develop future research areas. You will immediately become part of international consortia with ample opportunity to collaborate and expand your network. This is a fixed-term, 3-year position funded by the European Research Council (ERC) 2025 Consolidator Grant (CoG). Apply by March 31, 2026 for full consideration. https://eas.unige.ch/jobs.jsp?type=job&id=2147 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 NAU'S RADIANT CENTER FOR REMITE SENSING INSTRUMENT ENGINEER HIRES (2-4) The Radiant Center for Remote Sensing, Northern Arizona University's hub for instrument development and remote sensing research, is seeking to hire a team of 2-4 instrument engineers at the Intermediate, Senior, or Lead level. These on-site positions in Flagstaff Arizona will support the full development cycle of remote sensing instruments across multiple currently funded NASA programs. The team will span complementary disciplines including systems engineering, safety and mission assurance, mechanical engineering, thermal engineering, and electrical/software engineering, with individual candidates expected to bring depth in one or more of these areas. Candidates with prior experience in spacecraft or airborne instrument development, NASA program environments, and assembly, integration, and test campaigns are strongly encouraged to apply. To apply, submit a CV, a 1-2 page cover letter identifying your specific areas of expertise and experience level, and contact information for three references. The application deadline is April 6, 2026. Full details and the application portal can be found at: https://bit.ly/NAURadiantInstrumentEngineers Questions: Christopher.Edwards@nau.edu 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 CELEBRATION OF THE CAREER OF JERRY SCHUBERT The Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences will host an event to celebrate the remarkable career of Professor Jerry Schubert on May 8, 2026, at UCLA. This all-day celebration will feature talks spanning the breadth (some!) of Jerry's contributions to Geophysics and Planetary Science, panels of former students and collaborators, and an opportunity to share reminiscences. Please let us know if you plan to attend (in person or remotely) by completing this Google form. Professor Emeritus Gerald Schubert passed away at 86 years of age on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Jerry was one of the pre-eminent geophysicists of his generation and a leading light in developing the mathematical and physical framework of plate tectonics and the mantle convective processes that underlie it. His text 'Geodynamics', with Don Turcotte, remains the essential textbook for all upper-level undergrad and grad courses on applying physics to a broad swath of geologic processes. His following text, 'Mantle Convection', written with Turcotte and Olson, is again the definitive text in the field. Jerry was an incisive and elegant thinker who left no stone unturned. [Edited for length] 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 SPACECHI 2026 CONFERENCE AT NASA AMES We are happy to announce the return of SpaceCHI - the first research conference dedicated to advancing Human-Computer Interaction in the field of space exploration. Following the success of last year's event at the European Space Agency in Germany, SpaceCHI 2026 will be hosted at the NASA Ames Conference Center in Mountain View, California - in the heart of Silicon Valley - on September 24-25, 2026. Once again, the conference will feature keynote talks from astronauts and other world-leading space experts, offering a unique venue to connect with enthusiasts from around the world and help pioneer the next generation of space technology. Call for Submissions: SpaceCHI maintains a broad, interdisciplinary focus and welcomes contributions from researchers and practitioners across diverse fields, including aerospace engineering, design, AI, robotics, psychology, medicine and space architecture. Submission Deadline: July 17, 2026 Notification: July 27, 2026 Conference Dates: September 24-25, 2026 For submission guidelines and further information, please visit our official website: https://spacechi.media.mit.edu/ We look forward to your contribution and to seeing you - in person or online - at NASA Ames. Warm regards, Jean, Valentina, Leonie & Tommy SpaceCHI Conference Chairs 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 SCIENCE WITH THE HUBBLE & JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPES VIII Virtual registration closing soon We are delighted to announce the latest in the series of ESA-sponsored conferences, in collaboration with STScI, which highlight the scientific impact of the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. With both missions in science operations, we are unlocking many of the mysteries of the Universe, in what is a tremendously exciting time for astronomy. A key topic that underpins a broad range of current research is the chemical evolution of the Universe, from the production of heavy elements in the first stars, the enrichment over successive generations of star-formation and stellar death in galaxies, and the complex chemistry in the interstellar medium and stellar environments which build-up the molecules we are now probing in exoplanet and Solar System planetary atmospheres. The Science with the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes VIII conference will be held April 13-16, 2026, at the Parkhotel Schonbrunn in Vienna, Austria. The scientific program is now available on the meeting webpage, and virtual registration is open until March 27. For more information, please contact the organizing committee: HubbleWebb8@stsci.edu Go to: https://tinyurl.com/58fsdjvd [Edited for length] 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP UPDATES NASA has suggested a virtual meeting with OPAC later in April. We will notify the community as soon as the date and time are finalized! In the preparation, please watch the relevant updates from PSD that were presented at the LPSC meeting earlier this week: NASA Headquarters Briefing (Dr. Prockter & Dr. Bailey): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srof-LqPqBw&t=4895s NASA Headquarters Planetary Research Briefing (Dr. Vander Kaaden & Dr. Burton): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8-enBzNwlo You can also livestream more NASA updates next week (March 23-27, 2026) from the National Academies Space Science Week, Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences (CAPS): https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEPS-SSB-16-08/event/46347 An update and a request for feedback from the Ocean Worlds Working Group: The draft traceability matrix is now available for community comment. Please provide comments on the science goals and investigations, and any additional suggested measurements, instruments, or technology gaps to Cynthia Phillips and Mike Bland. OWWG activities, contact information, and the draft traceability matrix can be found at: https://workforce.psi.edu/owwg/ Please return all comments by Wednesday, April 8. We appreciate you and appreciate your patience and continued engagement through this transitional time. We will provide updates as soon as plans are finalized. Best always, Carol & Morgan, OPAG co-chairs [Edited for length] 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS OPEN UNTIL APRIL 1, 5PM HST 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 0.4mu to 25mu, 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 Sore. 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 WHAT TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN FOUNDATIONAL IN YOUR DEVELOPNENT AS AN ASTROBIOLOGIST? Focus Area 8 (Early Career and Workforce Development) of NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy Task Force 2 invites feedback on the tools, resources, and opportunities that have shaped your trajectory as an astrobiologist. Share your feedback by April 30, 2026: https://forms.gle/9q7zLzRRoRufdm389 Feedback will be used to guide discussions of the Early Career and Workforce Development Focus Area. This feedback will be used in aggregate to inform NASA about communication, support structures, and community awareness of tools and resources that enhance workforce development. Please contact Focus Area 8 Lead, Dr. Christina Richey, if you have any questions: crichey@seti.org 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: ACS 2026 FALL SESSION ON DEEP PLANETARY CHEMISTRY The American Chemical Society will host a session on Deep Planetary Chemistry at the Annual Fall Meeting to be held in Chicago, IL, from August 23-27, 2026. The session will explore novel phases and reaction pathways in planetary interiors and may be of interest to members of this community. We welcome contributions from experimental, theoretical, and computational researchers, including work on: - High-pressure mineral physics and geochemistry - Transport properties and dynamical behavior of deep planetary materials - Ab initio simulations, machine-learning potentials, and multiscale modeling of extreme environments - Laboratory and shock-compression studies relevant to planetary conditions Students and early-career researchers are especially encouraged to submit. Confirmed Invited Speakers: - Prof. Lars Stixrude (UCLA) - Dr. Sebastien Hamel (LLNL) - Dr. Mungo Frost (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) Abstract submission link: https://callforabstracts.acs.org/acsfall2026/GEOC Abstract due date: March 30, 2026 When/where: August 23-27, 2026, in Chicago, IL If your work connects high-pressure chemistry, planetary science, or materials at extreme conditions, we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to share this with colleagues who may be interested. 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 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 23-27, 2026 American Chemical Society https://www.acs.org/events/fall.html Chicago, IL September 9-11, 2026 Interdisciplinary Origin of Life Meeting for Early Career Researchers https://www.oolen.org/news-and-events/in-person-meetings/iool2026/ Tokyo, Japan September 24-25, 2026 SpaceCHI 2026 https://spacechi.media.mit.edu Moffett Field, CA 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Brian Jackson https://psj.aas.org Variability of Europa's Optical Aurora on Orbital and Multiyear Timescales Zachariah Milby et al. 2026 PSJ 7:60 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae47f4 Carbonated Chondrites during Giant Impacts Adrien Saurety and Razvan Caracas 2026 PSJ 7:63 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae4488 Variations in Lunar Crater Populations due to Target Properties and Secondary Craters Jean-Pierre Williams et al. 2026 PSJ 7:64 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae47f8 Space Weathering Age of Itokawa and Eros by Machine Learning Lakshika Palamakumbure et al. 2026 PSJ 7:65 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae4749 Vertical Temperature Structure in Io's Atmosphere from ALMA SO2 Observations Timothy N. Proudkii et al. 2026 PSJ 7:66 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae4721 Optical Spectroscopy of the Uranian Moons from Equinox to Northern Summer Riley A. DeColibus et al. 2026 PSJ 7:67 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae4a1b 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 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 https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009447 Asymmetric Crater Relaxation on an Ice-Rich Ceres Driven by Insolation I. F. Pamerleau, M. M. Sori, J. E. C. Scully https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009374 Effects of Hydrogen on Fe-S Alloys and Their Implications for the Martian Core Xuehui Wei et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009217 Characterization of Mercury's Atomic and Molecular Hydrogen Exosphere and the First Detection of H2 Ions F. Weichbold et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009197 Mineralogical Classification of CRISM Hyperspectral Data Under Uncertainty With Hybrid Neural Networks Robert Platt, Rossella Arcucci, Cedric M. John https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009473 *********************************************************************** * 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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. 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. ***********************************************************************