Issue 20-26, June 13, 2020
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- UPDATE ON THE DECADAL SURVEY ON PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLOGY
- JWST CYCLE 1 GO/AR PROPOSAL DEADLINE DELAY
- EPSC 2020: CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
- JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
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UPDATE ON THE DECADAL SURVEY ON PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLGY
The National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) have
implemented the following changes to the white paper deadlines for the Decadal
Survey on Planetary Science and Astrobiology:
July 15, 2020: Deadline for science white papers that identify (per the Decadal Statement
of Task) “the most compelling science questions, goals, and challenges that should motivate
future strategy in planetary science, astrobiology, and planetary defense.” These white papers
are the first ones needed for initial steering group and panel discussions that must commence
this summer.
August 15, 2020: Deadline for mission concept white papers. This deadline coincides with
the delivery date of results from the NASA-funded mission concept studies to the panels.
September 15, 2020: Deadline for all other white papers (e.g. the state of the profession,
infrastructure, interaction with human space exploration, etc.).
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JWST CYCLE 1 GO/AR PROPOSAL DEADLINE DELAY
The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has changed almost every aspect of our lives. Significant
uncertainties persist with regard to how the situation will evolve over the summer and fall.
Under those circumstances, and after consulting with the JWST Users Committee, STScI,
NASA, ESA and CSA have decided to delay announcing a formal schedule for JWST
Cycle 1 GO/AR proposals. We anticipate providing a further update on the schedule in
mid- to late-July. For planning purposes, STScI is exploring options for a proposal deadline
in the fall with the Telescope Allocation Committee meeting in early 2021. The JWST
launch schedule is evaluated independently by NASA.
Recognizing the challenges faced by the community, we will give at least twelve (12)
weeks notice of the revised Cycle 1 proposal deadline. The JWST Call remains open
and all proposal preparation tools and documentation continue to be available.
These remain stressful times for all of us. We wish the best to all members of our
community and their families, particularly those affected directly by the pandemic.
As always, please contact the jwst helpdesk if you have any questions.
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EPSC 2020: CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Dear Colleagues,
The Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2020, initially planned to be held in Granada,
Spain on 27 Sept. – 2 Oct. 2020, will be held as a three-week virtual meeting (21 Sept. –
9 Oct.) as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
See https://www.epsc2020.eu/virtual_meeting/overview.html for more details.
We’d like to direct your attention towards the following sessions:
SESSION OPS4: ICY OCEAN WORLDS: PAST AND FUTURE EXPLORATIONS
Conveners: Gabriel Tobie, Carly Howett, Alice Lucchetti, Frank Postberg, Federico Tosi
Session Description: The exploration of the outer solar system by Galileo at Jupiter, Cassini-
Huygens at Saturn, and New Horizons at Pluto-Charon, has revealed that several icy worlds
harbor a subsurface salty ocean underneath their cold icy surface. By flying through the
icy-vapor plume erupting from Enceladus’ south pole, Cassini proceeded for the first time
to the analysis of fresh materials coming from an extraterrestrial ocean, revealing its astrobiological
potentials. Even if there is no direct evidence yet, similar oceanic habitats
might also be present within Europa, Ganymede and Titan, which will be characterized by
future missions currently under development for the exploration of icy Galilean moons
(JUICE, Europa Clipper) and of Saturn’s moon Titan (Dragonfly).
Understanding these ocean worlds requires input from a variety of scientific disciplines:
planetary geology and geophysics, atmospheric physics, life sciences, magnetospheric
environment, space weathering, as well as supporting laboratory studies, numerical simulations,
preparatory studies for future missions and technology developments in instrumentation and
engineering. We welcome abstracts that span this full breadth of disciplines required for the
characterization and future exploration of ice-covered ocean worlds.
The new deadline for abstract submission is *** 24 June 2020, 13:00 CEST ***.
Information on how to submit an abstract can be found at the following link:
https://www.epsc2020.eu/abstract_management/how_to_submit_an_abstract.html
Looking forward to meeting you virtually!
Thanks,
Gabriel, Carly, Alice, Frank, Federico
SESSION SB7: SPACE MISSIONS TO SMALL BODIES: PLANETARY DEFENSE
Conveners: Patrick Michel, Andy Cheng, Julia de Leon, Michael Kueppers, Holger Sierks
Dates: September 21, 2020 – October 9, 2020
Abstracts are due June 24, 2020, 13:00 CEST
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2020/session/38557
The NASA DART and the ESA Hera missions will allow performing the first complete
asteroid deflection test by a kinetic impact, including the full characterization of the target
and the impact outcome. The development of these missions is supported by a large number
of activities in terms of modeling (impact process, dynamics, physical properties),
instrumentation, close proximity operations and data analyses. In parallel, the inventory
and spectral properties of Near-Earth Objects from Earth and from space (NEOSM) will
progress substantially. This session welcomes contributions related to those fascinating
topics.
Please forward this message to your colleagues and in particular to any early career
researcher you may know who is working on a relevant topic.
SESSION SB11: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SMALL BODIES: OBSERVATIONS AND TECHNIQUES
Please consider submitting an abstract to the EPSC SESSION SB11: Physical properties of
small bodies: observations and techniques virtual meeting September 21 – October, 2020.
Electromagnetic scattering phenomena play a key role in determining the properties of Solar
System surfaces based on observations using different techniques and in a variety of wavelengths
ranging from the ultraviolet to the radio. This session will promote a general advancement in the
exploitation of observational and experimental techniques to characterize radiative transfer in
complex particulate media. Abstracts are solicited on progresses in numerical methods to extract
relevant information from imagery, photometry, polarimetry and spectroscopy in solid phase,
reference laboratory databases, photometric modeling, interpreting features on planetary surfaces,
mixing/unmixing methods… Software and web service applications are welcome.
Abstract submission deadline: June 24, 2019, 13:00 CEST
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2020/session/38563
Virtual meeting info:
https://www.epsc2020.eu/virtual_meeting/overview.html
Conveners: Stéphane Erard, Maria Gritsevich, Karri Muinonen, Antti Penttilä, Frédéric Schmidt
SESSION OPS3: “PLANET” TITAN
Dear colleagues,
Please consider submitting an abstract to the EPSC session OPS3: “Planet” Titan
This will be a virtual meeting September 21 – October, 2020.
Despite its satellite status, Titan has nothing to envy to planets: it has planetary dimensions,
a substantial and dynamic atmosphere, a carbon cycle, a variety of geological features
(dunes, lakes, rivers, mountains…), seasons and a hidden ocean. It even now has its own
mission: Dragonfly, selected by NASA in the frame of the New Frontiers program.
In this session, scientific presentations are solicited to cover all aspects of current research
on Titan: from its interior to its upper atmosphere, using data collected in the frame of the
Cassini-Huygens mission (2004-2017) or from ground-based telescopes (e.g., ALMA) or
based on modelling and experimental efforts to support the interpretation of past and future
observations of this unique world.
Abstract submission deadline: June 24, 2019, 13:00 CEST
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2020/session/38538
Virtual meeting info:
https://www.epsc2020.eu/virtual_meeting/overview.html
Convener: Alice Le Gall | Co-conveners: Anezina Solomonidou, Sandrine Vinatier,
Giuseppe Mitri, Marco Mastroguiseppe, Sarah M. Hörst
SESSION TP4: IMPACT PROCESSES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Conveners: Robert Luther, Elena Martellato, Jens Ormö
Co-conveners: Natasha Artemieva, Christopher Hamann, Isabel Herreros, Francisco Javier Rodriguez Tovar
Description: Impact processes shaped the solar system and modify planetary surfaces
until today. This session aims at understanding planetary impact processes at all scales
in terms of shock metamorphism, dynamical aspects, geochemical consequences,
environmental effects and biotic response, and cratering chronology. Naturally, advancing
our understanding of impact phenomena requires a multidisciplinary approach, which
includes (but it is not limited to) observations of craters, strewn fields or airbursts,
numerical modelling, laboratory experiments, geologic and structural mapping, remote
sensing, petrographic analysis of impact products, and isotopic and elemental geochemistry analysis.
We welcome presentations across this broad range of study, and particularly encourage
work that bridges the gap between the investigative methods employed in studying
planetary impact processes at all scales.
Please, use the following link for more information:
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2020/session/38503
The deadline for the abstract submission is: 24 June 2020, 13:00 CEST.
Please, feel free to forward this e-mail to interested impact science colleagues.
We apologize for any cross-postings. If you have any further questions please
email the conveners.
We look forward to see you … at your computer screen!
Kindest regards,
Robert, Elena, and Jens
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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
A) ESA PROJECT SCIENTIST POSITION FOR MARS SAMPLE RETURN MISSION
The European Space Agency’s Directorates for Science and for Human and Robotic
Exploration are seeking a Programme Scientist for the Mars Sample Return mission.
Your primary role will be to lead the scientific preparations in ESA for the Mars Sample
Return Campaign. This campaign is under study by ESA and NASA and aims to return
about 500g of Mars samples to Earth.
The position is based at ESTEC in the Netherlands.
Deadline for applications is July 7, 2020.
Details can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/yacthy6l
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