Subject: [DPS Members] DPS Mailing #09-18: Letter from chair, PPT sets, Decadal news... Issue 09-18, December 7th 2009 +-----------------------------CONTENTS--------------------------------+ 1) Letter from the DPS Chair 2) New "Discoveries In Planetary Science" Classroom Powerpoints Available 3) DPS Carbon Neutrality Fund 4) Student Member Wanted for DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee 5) 2010 Icarus Subscriptions for DPS Members 6) Decadal Survey: Letter from Steve Squyres 7) IAU Office of Astronomy Development 8) Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 18 Call for Proposals 9) JPL-Homeland Security Case Reaches the Supreme Court 10) Job Announcements 11) Upcoming meetings +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ 1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1 LETTER FROM THE DPS CHAIR Dear Members, Thanks to all of you our Puerto Rico meeting was a great success! Your talks, posters and interactions always make our yearly endeavor worthwhile. Although the final numbers are not in yet, we anticipate coming out in the black. DPS financial challenges are not completely behind us, however we are going to refocus our efforts on non-financial matters. The Federal Relations subcommittee is working hard on the Pu238 issue. The lack of Pu238 limits some inner solar system missions and is a showstopper for outer solar system exploration. Expect a letter-writing campaign soon. Work on the 2010 survey is progressing. We will have it out in a few months. The demographic data will be analyzed by a new professional development subcommittee, especially with the concerns of early career scientists in mind. Our student members gave us a lot of good ideas for the 2010 conference in Pasadena, so look for some new activities aimed at students. Sincerely, Candy Hansen 2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2 NEW "DISCOVERIES IN PLANETARY SCIENCE" CLASSROOM POWERPOINTS AVAILABLE The DPS Education Subcommittee announces the 2nd release of "Discoveries in Planetary Science" Classroom Powerpoints, covering six new topics: - Discovery of a Rocky Exoplanet - Lunar Water - Jupiter Impact Event - Oceans on Enceladus - The TC3 Meteorite - 2012 Doomsday Rumors These are succinct summaries of discoveries too recent to appear in "Intro Astronomy" college textbooks; each set consists of just three slides to be shown: the discovery itself, a basic explanation based on good planetary science, and the "big picture" context. Another page for further information is provided as well. Powerpoints and pdf's can be downloaded from http://dps.aas.org/education/dpsdisc. Feedback from the community on how these slide sets are used and received is welcomed, and will be used to improve future releases. Planetary scientists with recent or upcoming results of broad interest are encouraged to submit them for consideration by providing an initial draft using the template provided on the website. For more information, contact Nick Schneider & Dave Brain at [email protected] 3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3 DPS CARBON NEUTRALITY FUND Thanks to all who contributed to the carbon neutrality fund to offset the environmental impact of travel to the Fajardo DPS meeting. $1110 was raised, which will be used to purchase Renewable Energy Credits which will contribute to the development of new renewable energy infrastructure. 4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4 STUDENT MEMBER WANTED FOR DPS FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE The DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee last year added a student member and, due to the graduation of the current student member, has an opening for a new student representative. If you are interested in this position, please contact Melissa McGrath ([email protected]), who can provide further details about what the position entails, and how to apply. Deadline December 31st. 5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5 2010 ICARUS SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR DPS MEMBERS The 2010 Icarus subscription rate for DPS members is $103 for both electronic and print versions. An updated subscription form will shortly be available from http://dps.aas.org/publications/ 6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6 DECADAL SURVEY LETTER FROM STEVE SQUYRES Dear Colleague: This is the fourth newsletter to the community regarding SolarSystem2012, the planetary science decadal survey. The key points in this newsletter are these: 1. Assessment of the 199 white papers received from the community is nearing completion. The white papers have provided very important input to the decadal survey process. 2. A second set of mission candidate studies has been identified by the panels and approved by the steering group. 3. Aerospace Corporation has been selected to perform independent cost estimates for the decadal survey, and they are now under contract. 4. Decadal survey sessions are planned for the upcoming Fall AGU, LPSC, and AbSciCon meetings. 5. More information is available on the SolarSystem2012 web site: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/CurrentProjects/ssb_052412 Since my last newsletter, most of the panels have met again, with their primary focus being assessing and taking action on the white papers submitted by the community. Every one of the 199 white papers has been read by multiple panel members, and their recommendations synthesized and briefed to the panels. Where clarification seemed valuable, white paper authors have been invited to brief panels personally. The deliberations of the panels have been substantially shaped by the white paper input. This was exactly what we had intended when we solicited the white papers, and I'm very pleased by the outcome. The Steering Group met on November 16-18 at the Beckman Center in Irvine, CA, after the latest round of panel meetings. This meeting dealt with a number of issues, including launch vehicle costs, availability of plutonium for space power systems, and the future of the Deep Space Network. A major focus of the Steering Group meeting was the latest set of mission study requests from the panels. These were based largely on white paper input, and a number of new studies were approved and initiated. Three of the new studies are of the type known as “Rapid Mission Architecture” studies. These are high-level studies of overall mission architecture that we expect to take a few weeks. The purpose of these studies is to explore the trade space for a specific mission candidate, in order to identify a “point design” for a possible subsequent full mission study. The three new Rapid Mission Architecture studies are: 1) Saturn atmospheric probe (JPL) 2) Main belt asteroid lander with possible mobility (APL) 3) Chiron orbiter (Goddard) There are also two new full mission studies. These will be more time-consuming and labor-intensive, and are intended to take these mission concepts to the point where they are ready for a full independent cost estimate. The two new full mission studies are: 1) Jupiter-orbiting Io mission (JPL) 2) Ganymede mission (JPL) In addition, three more mission concept studies have been identified that have already been done to a level of maturity such that an independent cost estimate should be possible. Those three mission concepts are: 1) Lunar network mission studied to date by Marshall and APL 2) MAX-C Mars rover and sample cacheing mission studied to date by JPL 3) Europa Jupiter system mission studied to date by JPL I'm also pleased to report that Aerospace Corporation has been selected to perform all the independent cost estimates that will be used to prepare the SolarSystem2012 report. Aerospace is doing a similar job for Astro2010, the astronomy decadal survey, and brings considerable experience and credibility to the task. An important note: Although we are conducting technical studies of many possible missions, not all of them will ultimately be selected for independent cost estimates. Also, only missions that have undergone independent cost estimates can be included in the final report, but undergoing an independent cost estimate does not guarantee that a mission will be included in the final report. Finally, we are continuing to organize a number of sessions at major scientific conferences where discussion of the decadal survey among the community will take place. Two special sessions will be held Friday morning, December 18, at the Fall AGU. Future sessions are planned for LPSC and AbSciCon. As always, more details on all of this are available at the SolarSystem2012 web site: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/CurrentProjects/ssb_052412 Once again, thanks very much for all your hard work on the white papers. They are playing a major role in shaping the outcome of the decadal survey. Best wishes, Steve Squyres SolarSystem 2012 Chair 7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7 IAU OFFICE OF ASTRONOMY DEVELOPMENT An important development in the implementation of the International Astronomical Union Strategic Plan 2010-2020 "Astronomy for the Developing World" is the establishment of the Office for Astronomy Development. A short cover letter and the Announcement of Opportunity to host the Office for Astronomy Development are available at http://iau.org/science/news/82/. Letters of interest are due December 31st 2009, with proposals due February 28, 2010. 8---------8---------8---------8---------8---------8---------8---------8 HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE CYCLE 18 CALL FOR PROPOSALS Release Date: December 04, 2009 Proposal Deadline: February 26, 2010 NASA and The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) are pleased to announce the Cycle 18 Call for Proposals for Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Observations and funding for Archival Research and Theoretical Research programs. Participation in this program is open to all categories of organizations, both domestic and foreign, including educational institutions, profit and nonprofit organizations, NASA Centers, and other Government agencies. This solicitation for proposals will be open through February 26, 2010 8:00pm EST. The Astronomer's Proposal Tools (APT), which is required for Phase I Proposal Submission will be made available/released for Cycle 18 Phase I use during the 1st week of January 2010. Results of the selection will be announced in early June 2010. All programmatic and technical information, as well as specific guidelines for proposal preparation, are available electronically from the STScI World-Wide Web site at the Announcement Web Page with URL: http://www.stsci.edu/hst/proposing/docs/cycle18announce Questions can be addressed to the STScI Help Desk (email: [email protected]; phone: 410-338-1082). 9---------9---------9---------9---------9---------9---------9---------9 JPL-HOMELAND SECURITY CASE REACHES THE SUPREME COURT The lawsuit of 28 Caltech employees at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory against their employer and NASA, on the subject of background checks, is now being brought before the US Supreme Court. See http://HSPD12JPL.org for details. 10--------10--------10--------10--------10--------10--------10-------10 JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) Postdoctoral Researcher (Planetary Science) Boulder, CO Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is seeking applications for a postdoctoral researcher in planetary science to assist Hal Levison (hal_at_boulder.swri.edu) in the study of the formation and long-term dynamical evolution of the Solar System. This project will involve studying the Kuiper belt binaries, giant planet core formation, and Oort cloud formation. The successful applicant will be expected to orchestrate their own independent research program in these or related areas. Requires a PhD in Planetary Science, Astronomy, or a related field with 0 – 2 years experience after PhD. Must have a strong research interest and publication record in the dynamics of small bodies in the Solar System, and/or the dynamics of planet formation. A working knowledge of the N-body code known as Swift will be considered a strong plus. To apply, please visit our website at www.swri.jobs. Reference job code 15-00971. 11--------11--------11--------11--------11--------11--------11-------11 UPCOMING MEETINGS 1) Cassini-Huygens Project : Huygens Legacy and Future Titan Exploration Barcelona, January 13-15, 2010 http://www.titanexploration.net/welcome.php Huygens landed on Titan on 14 January 2005. On the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the Huygens landing, the main scientific and engineering achievements of Huygens in combination with the remote sensing of the Cassini Orbiter observation at Titan will be reviewed during a 3-day long international meeting to be held January 13-15, 2010. The objectives of the meeting are to prepare: 1. Huygens Legacy 2. Review of Expectations for the Continuing Orbiter Mission 3. Objectives that will remain for Future Missions to Titan Deadline for abstracts : 18 December 2009 For the SOC : Athena Coustenis 2) European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2010 Vienna, Austria, 2-7 May 2010 http://meetings.copernicus.org/egu2010/home.html There will be several Planetary Sciences Sessions during the meeting, see http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2010/sessionprogramme/PS under the following themes: PS1 – Solar System exploration and techniques PS2 – Terrestrial Planets PS3 – Outer planets PS4 – Small bodies and dust PS5 – Plasmas and magnetospheres PS6 – Exoplanets PS7 – Modelling and experimental work in Planetology PS8 – Origins and Astrobiology PS9 – Joint Sessions The abstract submission is open until 18 January 2010. Deadlines and information on support applications (deadline : 4 December 2009) for the Programme Committee : Athena Coustenis (President of Planetary Sciences Division) 3) International Planetary Probe Workshop 2010 (IPPW-7) Barcelona, Spain : 14-18 June, 2010 This Workshop will explore technological challenges and scientific opportunities associated with entry, descent, landing and flight in planetary atmospheres with fellow scientists, technologists, engineers, mission designers, policy-makers and students interested in the exploration of solar system bodies with substantial atmospheres. http://www.planetaryprobe.eu/submit.php Deadline for submission of abstracts: 1 March 2010 For the Programme Committee: A. Coustenis (Co-Chair Science) 4) TNO 2010: Dynamical and Physical properties of Trans-Neptunian Objects Philadelphia, June 27 - July 1, 2010. See http://tno.swri.org/ The meeting will take place in historic Philadelphia, within walking distance of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The meeting itself will be held at the College of Physicians (http://www.collphyphil.org/), 19 South 22nd Street. Please sign up for our mailing list at [email protected] +---------------------------------------------------------------------+