Issue 19-43, September 21, 2019
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- NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC) MEETING
- SOFIA FLASH CALL FOR PROPOSALS: DUE SEPTEMBER 23
- IN MEMORIAM: DAVID CRISWELL (1941-2019)
- NOAO 2020A OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE 30 SEPTEMBER 2019
- JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
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NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC) MEETING
NASA’s Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet on Monday and
Tuesday, Sept. 23 and 24, 2019 from 8:30am to 5:00pm EDT each day at NASA
Headquarters, Room 3D42 in Washington, DC.
Federal Register Notice can be found here:
The agenda can be found here:
The meeting is open to the public and will be available by phone and Webex.
Connection details:
PHONE: same both days
· USA toll free conference number 1-800-779-9966, passcode 5255996
· toll number also is available, 1-517-645-6359, passcode 5255996
The WebEx link is https://nasa.webex.com/;
September 23: Meeting Number is 904 816 731 and password is PAC@Sept23 (case sensitive),
September 24: Meeting Number is 903 388 535 and password is PAC@Sept24 (case sensitive).
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SOFIA FLASH CALL FOR PROPOSALS: DUE SEPTEMBER 23
Dear SOFIA community members,
After a successful Spring 2019 flight series with FIFI-LS, we are facing a dearth
of sources to observe on certain headings in our upcoming Fall series. In order to
fill dead legs in our Fall series flight plans, we are therefore inviting Directors
Discretionary Time proposals in a “flash call”, with responses needed by Monday,
September 23, 2019.
Targets should be in the region RA 21-00 hours and north of Dec +20. We anticipate
scheduling up to four to six hours on legs observing this region. Proposers should
provide target details and a brief scientific case as described in
Please feel free to direct questions and comments to the SOFIA Science Center
help desk: [email protected]
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IN MEMORIAM: DAVID CRISWELL (1941-2019)
David Criswell, a noted space physicist with many science publications and
worldwide patents, as well as a former member of the science staff at the Lunar
Science/Lunar and Planetary Institute, passed away on September 10. He was
78 years old.
Criswell received his Ph.D. in 1968 from Rice University in the Department of
Space Physics and Astronomy. His graduate research at Rice University included
experimental work on auroral photometry and particle detection using rockets and
satellites. He joined the technical staff of TRW Inc.-Houston Operations in 1968
and pursued a wide range of projects in support to the Apollo program.
In 1970 Criswell came to the newly created Lunar Science Institute in Houston as
a visiting scientist, becoming a senior staff scientist by the time the Institute was
renamed as the Lunar and Planetary Institute.
Criswell conducted research on Moon-solar wind interactions, dynamics of the soil
regolith, lunar surface seismology, and related topics. He directed the only post-Apollo
study funded by NASA during the 1970s on the conversion of lunar resources into
basic industrial materials. He directed a number of LPI functions such as local and
international scientific conferences and study groups, edited major proceedings and
special journal issues, and operated the Lunar and Planetary Review Panel, which
that reviewed more than 3000 research proposals submitted to NASA in the 1970s.
Criswell began writing articles and papers on the use of extraterrestrial materials
for commercial usage and space settlements in 1979. His article in The Industrial
Physicist, “Solar Power via the Moon” (April/May 2002), was the continuation of
many years of dedicated service to the development of space resources for developing
Third World Countries, seeking to develop a source of safe, efficient, and cost-effective
energy for future generations of Earth’s inhabitants.
In 1980, Criswell accepted a research position with the newly formed California Space
Institute (CalSpace) headquartered at the University of California, San Diego. He
participated in formulation of local and statewide Cal Space research programs and
acquired NASA and private funds for the development of systems to process lunar
materials, directing high-level program reviews for NASA and the congressional
Office of Technology Assessment.
From 1982 to 1990 Criswell served as an aerospace consultant, working with industry,
government, and academic clients. He also organized and participated in reviews of
advanced research programs at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at
Los Alamos National Laboratory and provided similar assistance to the Illinois Space
Institute. He directed the CalSpace Automation and Robotics Panel, which conducted
an independent evaluation of the use of advanced automation and robotics within the
NASA space station program. Criswell was also the primary developer and Director
of the Consortium for Space/Terrestrial Automation and Robotics of the Universities
Space Research Association. Criswell organized and wrote the proposal under which
the University of California won the National Space Grant College and Fellowship
program in California in 1989 and operated the program for the first year before
returning to Texas in 1990.
While successful in a number of professional research areas, Criswell was most
passionate about and most noted for his work on a potential lunar solar power system,
which was designed to build bases on the Moon in order to beam clean, renewable
energy from the Sun to Earth. People often said he was a man ahead of his time. In
his personal life, he was a devoted, funny, sweet husband, father, grandfather, brother,
and friend. In every sense, the world will be much the poorer without him.
Criswell is survived by his loving wife of 39 years and many beloved children,
grandchildren, great grandchildren, and other family members.
For those who might be in the Houston area, a celebration of David Criswell’s
life will be held on Monday, October 14, at 2:00 p.m. (reception to follow) at
Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, 17503 El Camino Real, Houston TX
77058. Amusing and memorable stories to share about him are welcome.
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NOAO 2020A OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE 30 SEPTEMBER 2019
Dear Colleague:
This is a reminder that NOAO has issued a Call for Proposals (CfP) for
Semester 2020A, with proposals due by 30 September 2019 at 11:59pm Mountain
Standard Time (MST). The 2020A CfP can be found at
http://ast.noao.edu/observing/call-for-proposals-2020a
Proposal forms and information for observing time requests for the
2020A semester (1 Feburary 2019 – 31 July 2020) are available on the
NOAO web page:
http://ast.noao.edu/observing/proposal-info
Time requests for 2020A may be made for Gemini North and South,
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (including SOAR and SMARTS),
and Kitt Peak National Observatory (including WIYN). Time continues
to be available on the automated global telescope network of Las
Cumbres Observatory (LCO), as well as the CHARA interferometer. Nights
are also available on the Subaru and AAT telescopes through time-exchange
agreements.
Of particular note is the NN-EXPLORE program, which continues on both the
WIYN 3.5m and the CTIO/SMARTS 1.5m telescope with the CHIRON precision
radial-velocity spectrometer, as well as 5 nights on the AAT 3.9m
with the Veloce precision radial-velocity spectrometer. The new precision
radial-velocity spectrograph, NEID, is expected to be available on the
WIYN 3.5m in 2020A in shared risk mode.
Questions about the proposal form or the proposal process may be
directed to [email protected]. Questions specific to an
observing run may be sent to the site, either [email protected] or
[email protected]. Gemini related questions may be sent to
[email protected] or through the Gemini Helpdesk at:
http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/helpdesk/submit-general-helpdesk-request
Thank you and best wishes,
Verne Smith, NOAO TAC Program Head
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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
A) EDITOR OF THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL (PSJ)
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the Division for Planetary
Sciences (DPS) are soliciting applications and nominations of
candidates for the position of Editor of The Planetary Science Journal
(PSJ). This is a new journal to serve the planetary science community.
See:
https://aas.org/posts/news/2019/08/aas-dps-launch-gold-open-access-planetary-science-journal
The Search Committee is looking for candidates that have a record of
achievement in planetary science, experience as an author and referee
in this field, and a clear vision for the future of the PSJ. Previous
editorial experience would be useful but is not required.
Candidates for this position should submit a cover letter, CV,
bibliography, and names of two references to [email protected]
Nominations for the position may also be sent to the same address.
Selected candidates will be asked to provide evidence of institutional
support for their assuming the above editorial duties.
The cover letter should address the candidate’s qualifications, reason
for interest in the position, and ideas for the operation, management,
and future of the PSJ. Nominations submitted by September 30, 2019 will
be given full consideration.
More information can be found at:
https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/cfd23f2c
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Send submissions to:
Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected])
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