PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 36 (September 6, 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. Editorial: An Investigative Report on NASA Planetary R&A Funding 2. [EPSC 2026] Planetary Science Education in Europe - An Overview 3. 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship at Purdue University 4. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 5. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship - Application Deadline November 1, 2026 6. [NASA] PDS: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 78 7. [NASA] PDS: Aperiodic Data Releases in 2026.08 8. [NASA] PDS: More Aperiodic Data Releases in 2026.08 9. [NASA] Planetary Science Early Career Award 2024 Showcase 10. Symposium on Planetary Regolith and Aeolian Processes: A Tribute to the Life and Career of Rob Sullivan 11. Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series 12. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 13. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 14. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers 15. Planetary Research - New Papers Commercial/Fundraising Announcements: C1. What is your Opinion of Commercial Lunar Data? C2. Join the Planetary Society for the Earth and Space Experience 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: AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON NASA PLANETARY R&A FUNDING Planetary research and analysis programs (R&A) provide critical support for developing innovative Solar System exploration missions and maximizing their scientific return. They support cutting-edge research and prepare the next generation of planetary scientists. They have had strong support in decadal surveys by the National Academies and in Congressional legislation. Both have recommended funding growth with specific targets. This report uses information acquired by Freedom of Information Act requests to show that NASA has ignored these recommendations, effectively flat-funding R&A programs from FY2011-FY2025. During this time, these programs lost at least 30% of their value from inflation. We need Congress to take more specific action to remedy this crisis and this report makes specific recommendations for that action. To read the full report, go to: https://tinyurl.com/yc6xa8t7 Mark V. Sykes NOTE: The opinions expressed here 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 [EPSC 2026] PLANETARY SCIENCE EDUCATION IN EUROPE - AN OVERVIEW (Public event at the EPSC 2026 meeting) A splinter session on 8 September, Tuesday, 16:00-17:30 will be organized at the EPSC 2026 conference in Hague, Room Ganymede (Salsa). The event is to briefly collect and discuss how and where planetary science education is going on in Europe mainly at university level. Everybody is welcomed. Persons not attending can also contribute later online. For further info, contact kereszturiakos@gmail.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 51 PEGASI B POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY The Heising-Simons Foundation is accepting applications for their 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship program in Planetary Astronomy now through October 1, 2026. At Purdue University we have a wide range of professors across Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and Physics and Astronomy who can act at fellowship mentors. Research areas include (but are not limited to): Geophysics, geochemistry, surface processes, clouds and climate, thermochronology, in-situ instrumentation and planetary missions, habitability, biosignatures, origins of life, paleomagnetism, surface processes, and circumstellar disks. More information on our research and resources available to fellows can be found at: https://www.eaps.purdue.edu/research/51pegbfellowship.html 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The September image of the month is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: https://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com This month's topic is "Are Parts of Venus' Oldest Rocks Actually Its Youngest?", contributed by Prof. Paul K. Byrne, Associate Professor from Washington University in St. Louis. You can follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on BlueSky: @planetarygeomorph.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/planetarygeomorph.bsky.social or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology Best wishes, Noe Le Becq (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group) 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 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP - APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1, 2026 The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers US and international scientists the opportunity to advance their research while contributing to NASA's scientific goals. The NPP supports fundamental science; explores the undiscovered; promotes intellectual growth; and encourages scientific connections. Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA's missions in Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, biological and physical science, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration systems, space operations, space technology, and astrobiology. Search for NPP research opportunities here: https://npp.orau.org/applicants/opportunities.html Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. Please see current eligibility requirements. Stipends start at $70,000 per year, with supplements for higher cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $10,000 per year is provided for travel and professional development. Applications typically are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply, visit: https://npp.orau.org/applicants/index.html Questions: npp@orau.org 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: MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 78 The NASA Planetary Data System announces Release 78 of data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). This release contains raw, calibrated, and derived data products nominally covering the time period November 9, 2025, through February 8, 2026. 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 The data may be accessed at https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/mro/ For a view centered on this release, go to: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260901.shtml 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 September 1, 2026. 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] PDS: APERIODIC DATA RELEASES IN 2026.08 In August 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission: - 2026.08.26 MEX SPICAM MARS CLEANED UV RDR V2.0 - 2026.08.25 MGS MOLA Derived Topography - MEGDR and SHADR Dataset - 2026.08.24 MSL ChemCam Passive Surface Spectra - 2026.08.13 Voyager 2 Uranus Planetary Radio Astronomy Data - 2026.08.11 NH (New Horizons) Mission Instrument-Specific and Mission-Wide Docs - 2026.08.11 NH Documents for REX (Radio Science Experiment) - 2026.08.11 NH REX Data Archive - 2026.08.11 NH REX Post-LAUNCH Checkout Raw Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX Post-LAUNCH Checkout Calibrated Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX Jupiter Encounter Raw Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX Jupiter Encounter Calibrated Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX Pluto Cruise Raw Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX Pluto Cruise Calibrated Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX Pluto Cruise Tracking and Navigation Files (TNF) - 2026.08.11 NH REX KEM1 Cruise Raw Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX KEM1 Cruise Calibrated Data - 2026.08.11 NH REX KEM1 Cruise Tracking and Navigation Files (TNF) - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI (LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager) Post-Launch Checkout - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Post-Launch Checkout Partially Processed Data - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Jupiter Encounter Raw Data To access those data, go to: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260831.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.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 [NASA] PDS: MORE APERIODIC DATA RELEASES IN 2026.08 In August 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission: - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Jupiter Encounter Partially Processed Data - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Pluto Cruise Raw Data - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Pluto Cruise Partially Processed Data - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI KEM1 Cruise Raw Data - 2026.08.10 NH LORRI KEM1 Cruise Partially Processed Data - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP (Solar Wind Around Pluto) Post-Launch Checkout Raw Data - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Post-Launch Checkout Calibrated Data - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Jupiter Encounter Raw Data - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Jupiter Encounter Calibrated Data - 2026.08.07 NH Jupiter Encounter Mission Phase SWAP Data Summary Plots - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Pluto Cruise Raw Data - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Pluto Cruise Calibrated Data - 2026.08.07 NH Pluto Cruise Mission Phase SWAP Data Summary Plots - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP KEM1 Cruise Raw Data - 2026.08.07 NH SWAP KEM1 Cruise Calibrated Data - 2026.08.07 NH Cruise to First Kuiper Belt Object SWAP Data Summary Plots - 2026.08.06 Magellan Radio Science raw data - 2026.07.31 NEW HORIZONS SPICE Release 10 To access those data, go to: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260831.shtml To access all data archived in PDS, go to: https://pds.nasa.gov 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 [NASA] PLANETARY SCIENCE EARLY CAREER AWARD 2024 SHOWCASE Join us September 16 from 3-5 p.m. ET on Webex for the 2024 Planetary Science Early Career Award Showcase, featuring talks from selected investigators from ROSES-2024. Speakers will highlight projects spanning astro materials, planetary defense, digital terrain models, expanding access to planetary science, and open-source tools for gamma ray and neutron spectroscopy. Each presenter will give a 15-minute talk followed by 3 minutes for questions. Please join the showcase at: https://tinyurl.com/mvdr8979 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 SYMPOSIUM ON PLANETARY REGOLITH AND AEOLIAN PROCESSES: A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ROB SULLIVAN Please register for the "Symposium on Planetary Regolith and Aeolian Processes: A Tribute to the Life and Career of Rob Sullivan" as the hotel block is closing on September 11, 2026. The symposium will take place October 12-13, 2026 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. We are finalizing the program which will Include public lectures, keynote speakers, and contributed talks on topics where Rob made major contributions, such as Martian aeolian features, tectonics on Europa, and geology of asteroids. For more information and registration, go to: https://tinyurl.com/2jjd3zx5 If you are unable to attend but want to share a short remembrance of Rob, please share your short 10-30 second video at: https://cornell.app.box.com/f/404648923baa402fbe2b9568024b12c8 SOC: Don Banfield (Ames), Jim Bell (ASU), Alex Hayes, Julie Rathbun (Cornell) 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 ICE GIANT SYSTEMS SEMINAR SERIES Date/Time: September 8, 11am ET Speaker: Thomas Doucot (University of Zurich) Topic: Modelling the Vertical Structure of Uranus' and Neptune's Atmospheres The composition and temperature-pressure profiles of Uranus' and Neptune's atmospheres are not well-determined. As observational data are limited, we often rely on chemical equilibrium computations to infer atmospheric abundances and cloud formation. The inferred atmospheric structures, however, strongly depend on several fundamental assumptions such as the elemental abundances and ratios, the condensation properties of the assumed species, or a reference temperature for the adiabatic profile. In this presentation, I will discuss how different assumed atmospheric metallicities, element ratios and 1-bar temperatures can shape the vertical structures inferred by chemical equilibrium models. For the cases considered here, we find that chemical abundances and cloud deck altitudes can vary by more than an order of magnitude. Additionally, thermal profiles can differ by several tens of kelvins due to 1-bar temperature and composition. We advise that future ground-based observations and a dedicated mission to Uranus and/or Neptune are required to better characterize the atmospheric structure and composition of the Ice Giants. For information about the series, visit: https://icegiantsseminar.jhuapl.edu [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 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 December 7-12, 2026 Toward Sub-micro-arcsecond Astrometry: Scientific Opportunities and Measurement Pathways https://conf.koushare.com/conf/casfis-smastro2026/ Shanghai, China 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Brian Jackson https://psj.aas.org Hydrogen Implantation on the Moon: Effect of Plasma Sheath Trinesh Sana and S. K. Mishra 2026 PSJ 7:206 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae9951 Climates of Gl 514 b Hector E. Delgado Diaz et al. 2026 PSJ 7:207 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae9861 Experimental Ejecta Emplacement in Variable Gravity and Its Effects on Landscape Evolution Kirby D. Runyon et al. 2026 PSJ 7:208 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae9875 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 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 Inferring Io's Internal Properties by Combining Gravity Measurements and Volcanic Activity A. Veenstra, M. Rovira-Navarro, W. van der Wal https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009885 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 PLANETARY RESEARCH - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Diamond Open Access Papers Editor-in-Chief, Mark A. Wieczorek https://planetary-research.org No new papers. C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1 COMMERCIAL: SURVEY ON ATTITUDES FOR COMMERCIAL LUNAR DATA What are your attitudes about Lunar Commercial Data? Potomac Database Systems wants your honest feedback in a brief survey. The survey includes a text box for your unfiltered comments, and you may answer anonymously or by identifying yourself. We'll present preliminary survey results later this month at the LEAG (Lunar Exploration Analysis Group) meeting at Purdue University. The survey link is https://forms.gle/bFgxhZjFZ6imzp488 C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2 COMMERCIAL: JOIN THE PLANETARY SOCIETY FOR THE EARTH AND SPACE EXPERIENCE This is the last chance to register for the Earth and Space Experience this fall in partnership with The Planetary Society. Be sure to register for this primer on planetary surface processes and human spaceflight. For every registrant, we will donate $100 to The Planetary Society to support our mission of Solar System exploration. Register by September 15 at: https://planex.space/planetarysociety Note that education discounts are available from the $1500 normal registration price. Question? Contact 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. 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. ***********************************************************************