VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary Tuesday Thursday, November …102 Step‐2 submissions, with expectation of...
Transcript of VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary Tuesday Thursday, November …102 Step‐2 submissions, with expectation of...
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 1
VEXAG#14MeetingSummaryTuesday‐Thursday,November29–December1,2016
JamesWebbAuditorium,NASAHeadquarters EightymembersoftheVenuscommunityparticipatedinVEXAGMeeting#14,heldatNASAHeadquarters,Washington,DConNovember29–December1,2016.BobGrimm,VEXAGChair,welcomedtheattendeesandnotedthathewasenthusiasticabouttheopportunitiesforVenusexplorationviathetwoVenusDiscoveryPhase‐Astudies,theupcomingNewFrontiersAnnouncement,theopportunitiesprovidedbySmallSatsandCubeSats,ourinternationalcollaborationswithAkatsuki,Europe’sM5Missioncall,andtheRussianVenera‐Dmissionsaswellastheupcomingfocusonhigh‐temperatureelectronicsviatheHOTTechcall.BobalsonotedthatVEXAG’snewslogan“UnveilVenus:WhyisEarth’ssisterplanetsodifferent?”isnowoutthereonsocialmedia.Atthispointintheproceeding,NASAdistributedCertificatesofAppreciationto:
EllenStofaninrecognitionofherextraordinarysupporttotheVEXAGScienceCommunityandVEXAG,
LoriGlazeforhersteadfastdedicationtotheexplorationofVenusviaheroutstandingleadershipasVEXAGChair–2011–2015,and
TommyThompsonforhissteadfastsupportofVenusscienceandexplorationasVEXAGExecutiveSecretary.
VEXAGdistributedCertificatesofAppreciationto: RobertHerrickforhisoutstandingleadershipoftheVEXAGGoalsandExploration
SitesFocusGroup,2013–2016, SanjayLimayeforhisofhisoutstandingleadershipoftheVEXAGInternational
VenusExplorationWorkingGroup,2012–2016,and LynnaeQuickforheroutstandingleadershipoftheVEXAG’sEarlyCareerScholars
OutreachFocusGroup.
GroupPhotoVEXAGMeeting#14–Thursday,December1,2016
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 2
EllenStofan,whoiscompletingherthree‐yeartermasSMDChiefScientist,providedareportonherperspectivesonVenusExploration.ShenotedthatNASA’sPlanetaryScienceisverystrong.ThenewAssociateAdministratorforSMDisThomasZurbuchen,whomEllencharacterizedasoneofthefewpeopleatNASAHeadquarters,wholikeherselfhastowritecompetitiveproposals.EllennotedthatVenusiantectonics,volcanology,andvolatilesarekeytoCompetitivePlanetologyandthatthefundamentalquestionsare:
DidVenushaveaclimatefavorableforhabitability?, DidVenushaveanocean?,and WhatarethesurfacerocksonVenus?,
andthatthereisaneedtoacquirenewdatatoanswerthesequestions.IntheQuestionandAnswersessionitwasnotedthat:
WeneedtokeepinmindthatVenuscanbethoughtofasanoceanworldaswellasanExoplanet,and
Venusmightharborahabitableworldinitsatmosphere.
NASA Reports
JimGreen(NASAHeadquarters)notedthatasusual,it’sapleasuretobeatourVEXAGMeeting.Heprovidedawell‐receivedstatusreportonactivitiesassociatedwithNASA’sPlanetaryScienceDivision(PSD),bydiscussingrecentandnear‐termNASAmissions,theDiscoveryProgram,therecentlycompleted2016SeniorReview,theNationalAcademyofSciencesstudiesandschedules,internationalVenusefforts,thePlanetaryScienceVision2050Workshop,aswellastheNASAPSDResponsetothe2015VEXAGfindings.Forrecentandnear‐termNASAmissions,Jimnoted:“2016hasbeenafantasticyearwithsuccessfulorbitinsertionsofJunoatJupiterandofESA’sTraceCaseOrbiter(TGO)atMars,thesuccessfullaunchofOSIRIS‐RExtoasteroidBennu,andtheESA’sRosettacometmissionsuccess.ThisisthegoldenageforPlanetaryScience”.FortheDiscoveryMissions,Jimnoted“ThisisoneofthelynchpinsofPlanetaryScience”withthe11successfulmissionstodateandtwonear‐termitems:ESA/MercurySurface:Strofioinstrumentin2017andtheMarsInSightmissionin2018.FortheDiscoveryMissionselections2014,therearefivePhase‐Amissionstudies,withtheVenusmissionsbeing:
DAVINCI:DeepAtmosphereVenusInvestigationsofNoblegases,Chemistry,andImagingwithPILoriGlaze,GSFC,and
VERITAS:VenusEmissivity,RadioScience,InSAR,Topography,AndSpectroscopywithPISuzanneSmrekar,JPL.
AselectionisexpectedinDecember2016andanannouncementinJanuary2017.
Forthe2016PlanetaryMissionSeniorReview(PMSR),Jimnoted“ThePanelunanimouslybelievesthatallmissionsshouldbeapprovedforextension”.Asaresult,allninecurrentplanetarymissionshavebeendirectedtocontinueoperationsthroughFY18(NewHorizonsthrough2021),subjecttoavailabilityofappropriatedfundsandtotheoutcomeoftheannualbudgetprocess.
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 3
ForNationalAcademySciencesstudiesandschedules,Jimnoted:
• The1stPlanetaryDecadalSurveywasconductedin2002‐2012,
• The2ndPlanetaryDecadalSurveywasconductedin2013‐2022,
• ACubeSatReviewwascompletedinJune2016,
• AnExtendedMissionsReviewwascompletedSept2016,
• AR&ARestructuringReviewwasinitiatedinAugust2015withitsReportduetoNASADecember2016,
• AlargeStrategicNASAScienceMissionsStudywastaskedinDecember2015withaReportduetoNASAAugust2017,
• TheMid‐termevaluationofthePlanetaryDecadalSurvey,whichisrequiredbylaw,wasinitiatedinAugust2016withaReportexpectedinDecember2017,
• AnewStudyonSampleAnalysisFutureInvestmentStrategywasinitiatedinSeptember2016,and
• The3rdPlanetaryDecadalSurveyfor2023‐2032willbetaskedbeforeOctober2019withareporttoNASAin2022.
Asasignificantnumberofextraterrestrialsamplesareexpectedinthenextdecade,thenewStudyonSampleAnalysisFutureInvestmentStrategywillbeamulti‐nationaleffortinvolvingUnitedKingdom,France,Germany,andJapan.Thisstudywillemphasizeneededfacilitiesandinstrumentationbyassessing:
• Whatlaboratoryanalyticalcapabilitiesarerequiredtosupportanalysisandcurationofexistingandfutureextraterrestrialsamples?,
• InternationalVenusefforts,
• WhetherthecurrentsamplelaboratoriesandNASA’sinvestmentstrategymeettheanalyticalrequirementsofcurrentandfuturedecadalplanetarymissions?,and
• CanNASAensurethatthesciencecommunitystaysabreastofevolvingtechniquesinordertobeattheforefrontofextraterrestrialsampleanalysis?
ForInternationalVenusEfforts,JimnotedthattheJAXA/AkatsukiParticipatingScienceProgramhasbeenasuccess.Also,aBilateralMeetingofNASA’sandRussianSpaceAgency’srepresentativesinMoscowlastOctoberhadacomprehensiveVenera‐DSDTpresentationonpossiblemissionscenarios.AreportisexpectedbyendofJanuary2017.ThisJointSDTwillbeextendedforanothertwoyearswithanewchargeforamorefocusedapproach.KeytotheseVenera‐DeffortswillbetheupcomingVenusSciencePrioritiesforModelingandExperimentsConferenceattheGlennResearchCenterinMay2017whereinternationalparticipationisencouraged.ConferenceresultswillbediscussedwithRussianSpaceAgencylaterin2017.JimprovidedanintroductiontothePlanetaryScienceVision2050WorkshopthatwillbeheldatNASAHeadquartersonMonday–Wednesday,February27–March1,2017.TheWorkshop’sgoalistodevelopacompelling,35‐yearsciencevisionforthe2020’s,2030’s,and2040’susingthenotionaltechnologiesandmissionsofthePlanetaryScienceDecadalSurveyasthestartingpoint.
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 4
Participationinthisworkshopwillbespace‐limitedandrequiressubmissionofanabstract.Alloftheabstracts,whichwillbepostedontheworkshopwebsite,andthenusedinthedevelopmentoftheworkshopreport.Oralsessionswillbelive‐streamedsothatmembersofthecommunityunabletoattendtheworkshopcanparticipate.Theworkshopprogramwillincludefivehalf‐daysessionswithnoparallelsessions,aswellastwopostersessionsonMondayandTuesdayevening.PDFsofposterpresentationswillbepostedontheworkshopwebsite.Thehalf‐daysessionswillhaveaninvitedplenarytalk,followedbyaseriesofinvitedandcontributedoralpresentations,andapaneldiscussion.Afternoonsessionswillhavebriefone‐slideintroductionstotheeveningposters.
JimprovidedastatusupdatetoVeGASO(VenusGravityAssistScienceOpportunities)notingthataVeGASOFlybyVenusScienceWorkingGroup,wasjointlysetupbyNASASMD’sHeliophysicsandPlanetaryDivisionsin2015inordertoinvestigateVenusfly‐byscienceopportunitiesusingtheSolarProbePlus,SolarOrbiterandBepiColombomissions.Thesemissionsprovideanopportunitytomakeimportantobservationsabouttheionosphereandinducedmagnetosphereaswellastheatmosphere,surface,andinteriorscience.AbriefingtothenewHeliophysicsDivisiondirectorwillinitiatediscussionsonnextsteps.
JimdiscussedthePlanetaryScienceDeepSpaceSmallSatStudies,notingthattherewere102Step‐2submissions,withexpectationof6‐15awardsforupto$100Mmissionconcepts.Jim“wasreallydelightedwiththenumberofsubmissions”.Twoimmediateeventsarethatthe2016Discoveryselectionstobeannouncedsoon,andthattheNewFrontiers‐4AOwillbereleasedinearly2017.CurtNieburgaveadetailedreportonNewFrontiersProgrambyreviewingthestatusofHomesteadercallandselections,theNewHorizons(NF‐2)andJuno(NF‐3)missions,andNewFrontiers‐4AOCall.ForHomesteadercall,NASA’sPlanetaryScienceDivisionissuedtheHomesteaderNRAinordertopursuepossibletechnologiesthatcouldbeincludedaspartoffutureNewFrontiersmissions.Eightoutof84proposalswereselectedfornear‐termtechnologydevelopment.OneofselectedproposalsisaVenusEntryProbePrototype,ledbyLoriGlaze,GoddardSpaceFlightCenter.Inparallel,aNewFrontiersDataAnalysisProgramwasinitiatedviaaROSES2016call.AlthoughcurrentlyfocusedonNewHorizonsthisyear,itwillbeexpandedtocoverotherNewFrontiersmissionsastheirdataarearchivedinthePDS.ForthecurrentNewFrontiersMissions,Curtnotedthat:
NewHorizons–downlinkofdatafor2014fly‐bywascompletedinOctober, JunoisnowinJupiterorbit,and OSIRIS‐RExwassuccessfullylaunchedonSept.8,2016witharrivalattheasteroid
Bennuin2018,andsamplereturntoEarthin2023FortheNewFrontiers‐4AOCall,Curtnotedthat:
ThesewillbePImanagedmissionswithacostcapof$850MforPhasesA‐D, TheDraftAOwasreleasedinAugust2016,with46repliesfromthecommunity, A4thCommunityAnnouncementwithsomeinformationrequestedintheDraftAO
replieswasreleasedearlierinNovember,
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 5
TheFinalAOwasreleasedinaweekafterthisVEXAGmeetingwithaduedateofApril28,2017.Technologyincentiveswillbe$10MforNEXT(ionpropulsion)and$20MforHEEET(heatshield).TherewillbeincreasedscrutinyofthetraceabilityofproposedscienceobjectivestotheDecadalSurvey.Specificallythereisaneedforadiscussionofhowproposedmeasurementswilltracetoaspecificscienceobjectiveortestaparticularhypothesis,and
SelectionofcompletivePhase‐AStudies(at$4Meach)iscurrentlyscheduledforNovember2017withPhase‐AStudyReportsdueinOctober2018,andanannouncementofmissionselectioninMay2019.
IntheQuestionandAnswercloseoutofthisreport,CurtnotedthatheexpectstheNewFrontierscadencetocontinueat5‐yearintervals.JonathanRallprovidedastatusreportonPlanetaryScienceR&A.Overallselectionrateis21%withfundingprovidedin60to90days.JonathandescribedaKeywordAnalysisoftheR&AprogrambasedonTypeofTask,Object(s)ofStudy,andScienceDiscipline.ThisanalysisincludesR&Aawards,DataAnalysisPrograms,aswellasParticipatingScientistandGuestInvestigatorPrograms.ExcludedfromthisanalysisweresupportactivitiesandfacilitiessuchastheRPIFs,AVGR,GEER,PAL,RELAB,etc).MaxBernsteinsupplementedthisdiscussionofPlanetaryScienceR&AwithadiscussionofROSESSelectionData.Planetaryproposalselectionratehasbeenbetween21‐23%since2010,whilethenumberofproposalssubmittedhasgoneupanddownfrom1250to1600inthesametimeframe.Thedownwardtrendinplanetaryproposalselectionhasleveledoff.JonathanRallalsoprovidedareportonCharteringofSMDDivisionCommitteesbynotingthatNASAisproposingtoCongressthatthefour(EarthSciences,PlanetarySciences,AstrophysicsandHeliophysics)subcommitteesoftheNACScienceCommitteeassociatedwithSMDdivisionsbecomestand‐aloneFederalAdvisoryCommitteeAct(FACA)committees.ThesenewFACACommitteeswillprovidetheirrespectiveDivisionDirectorwithinSMDwiththeadvicethatwillbeacteduponattherightorganizationallevel.Manycommunity‐basedstudies,suchasSeniorReviews,ScienceandTechnologyDefinitionTeamswill,inturn,haveacharteredFederalAdvisoryCommitteetoreportto.ThesenewFACACommitteeswillhaveCharters(ratherthanTermsofReference)andMembershipBalanceplans.AsofSeptember1st,ChartersandMembershipBalancePlanswereinreviewbytheGeneralServicesAdministration(GSA).Remainingstepsare:
AFederalRegister15‐dayPublicationannouncingtheplannedestablishmentofthesenewFACAAdvisoryCommittees,
ChartersandMembershipBalancePlanssignedoffbytheNASAAdministrator,and
FilingwithCongress.
CarolynMercerfillinginforMikeSeablomgaveapresentationonPlanetaryCubeSatsandthenfollowedwithherownpresentationonthePlanetarySmallSatROSEScall.Carolynnotedthat12assignedCubeSatsciencemissionsareoneelementofabalancedapproachtoachievingSMDScience.RecentSMD/STMDStudieshavefocusedonaccomplishingPlanetaryDecadalScienceGoalsandObjectiveswithspacecraftthatrangefromCubeSatsandSmallSatsuptotheFlagshipmissions.
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 6
Thereareanumberofchallenges,suchasplatformandinstrumenttechnologygaps,whicharebeingaddressed.ThesewereaddressedbyaSMD‐ledNRCstudyonAchievingScienceGoalsThoughCubeSats,andaNASAinternalSMDSmallEarthandHeliophysicsSatelliteStudy.AJointSMD/STMDStudyofNewOpportunitiesforLow‐CostScienceInstruments,Platforms,andMissionArchitectureswasinitiatedinFebruary2015withgoalsof:
Investigatingcurrentparadigmshiftsintheminiaturizationofscienceinstrumentsandsmallsatelliteplatformdisruptivetechnologies,
Determiningthepotentialfornovelapproachesthatcouldbreakthecycleof“largerbutfewer”expensivemissions,
IdentifyingkeySMDsciencemeasurementrequirementsthatcouldbesatisfiedthroughsuchparadigms,and
Identifyingtechnologygapsthatcouldbeaddressedthroughsolicitationssuchthatbarrierstoalternativepathsareremoved.
Specifically,SMDisnowrequestinginputfromtheNASAAssessmentGroups(AGs)tohelpdefinethenotionalrequirementsforsmallspacecraftviaasurveythataddressesNASArelevance,natureoftheinvestigation,targets,instruments,thepossiblenovelanduniquecontributions,andchallenges.
CarolyndescribedanewROSESSolicitationforPlanetaryScienceDeepSpaceSmallSatStudies,wherefundingwillbeprovidedforformalmissionconceptstudies.Approximately$3Mwillbeavailableforsixtofifteen6‐monthstudies.TheSMDgoalsaretoacquiredetailedconceptstudiesfordeepspacePlanetarySciencemissionsthatcanbeaccomplishedwithsmallspacecraft,andtostimulatecreativityinthecommunityforscienceenabledbysmall,low‐cost($10M‐$100M)deepspacemissions.Proposalsshouldbeforstate‐of‐the‐artimplementationsthataddressNASA’sPlanetaryScienceDivisiongoals.Some120proposalswerereceivedinmid‐November,justbeforethisVEXAGmeeting.MissiondestinationsfortheseproposedstudiesweretheMoon,Mars,Venus,asteroids,comets,andtheouterplanets.Upto16oftheseproposalsareexpectedtobeselected.
AdrianaOcampoprovidedanupdateontheHotOperatingTechnologies(HOTTech)Program.Thisprogramsupportsadvanceddevelopmentoftechnologiesforroboticexplorationinhigh‐temperatureregimes,suchastheVenusiansurface,MercuryandtheGasGiants.ThiswasaROSESsolicitationinAugust.29proposalswerereceived.SelectionsweretobeannouncedinDecember,aboutamonthafterthisVEXAGMeeting.
NewFrontierandFlagshipMissionForumsMarthaGilmorechairedaNewFrontiers(NF)Forum.ShesetthestagebynotingthattheNFProgramwasestablishedatrecommendationof2002Decadaltohelpaddress12fundamentalscientificquestionswitharecommendedcadenceofevery2‐3years.
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 7
Forvariousreasons,theactualNFcadencewas2years,6years,8years.Basedon2012DecadalSurvey,theNFmissionsbeingsolicitedinthe2017callare:
ASaturnprobe, ALunarSouthPoleAitkenBasinSampleReturn, AVenuslander, ATrojanAsteroidTourandRendezvousProbe,aswellas OceansWorld,whichwasinsertedafter2012DecadalSurvey.
VenusNFgoalsaresupportedbythe2014VEXAGreports‐theGoalsObjectivesandInvestigations,theRoadmapforVenusExploration,andtheVenusTechnologyPlan.TheVenusTechnologyPlanidentifiescriticaltechnologiesneededforaVenusNFmission.LarryEspositoaugmentedthisNFdiscussionbydescribingVISAGE:VenusInSituAtmosphericandGeochemicalExplorer.LarrynotedthatthismissionwouldaddressasubsetofobjectivesfromtheDecadalsurveythatcanbeaccomplishedwithinthecostcap.Thiswouldbeimplementedviaacarrierandalander.KeyquestionsthatwillbeaddressedbyVISAGEare:
Whatisthenature(chemicalandmineralcomposition)oftheVenusiansurfaceandhowdiditgetthatway?
Whatdonoblegasesinatmospheretellusaboutitshistory? Isthereevidenceofpasthydrologicalcycles? Arethereanyindicationsoflifeorhabitability? Howdorocks/mineralsontheplainsconstrainVenusinterior,surfaceandsurface‐
atmosphereinteractions?
BobGrimmchairedaVenusFlagshipForum.Hesetthestagebynotingthatthe2009VenusFlagshipMissionStudywasanimportantresourceas: Itsgoalsagreewiththe2014VEXAGGoals,Objectives,Investigations2014, IthadanInSAROrbiter Ithadatwoentrysystems,alanderandaVEGA‐styleballoon.
Itsgoalswheretoaddressthefollowingquestions: WhatdoestheVenusgreenhouseteachusaboutclimatechange?, HowactiveisVenus?,and Whenandwheredidthewatergo?,and
Ithadacostof$2.7‐3.8B,FY’09.Duringtherun‐uptothe2012DecadalSurvey,aVenusClimateMission2010wasdesignedtoaddressthegoalsof: CharacterizingCO2greenhouse, Characterizingdynamicsandvariabilityofsuper‐rotation, Measuringsurface/loweratmosphereexchange,and SearchingforevidenceofclimatechangeonVenus
Ithadacostof$1.1‐1.6B,FY12.The2013DecadalSurveyrecommendationswereeitherEnceladusorVenusflagshipmissioninthelowestpriorityofalloftherecommendedFlagshipMissions.ThekeyquestioniswhetherVEXAGinthenextdecadecontinuestoadvocateforaFlagshipMissionorshifttheemphasistosmallermissionsand/orinternationalcollaboration?
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 8
CommentsintheQ&Awere: Weneedtostartaconversationnow, WeneedtofocusonFlagshipmissionsafterNewFrontiers‐4, TheVenusClimateMission(VCM)althoughitwasconceivedinashorttimewith
heritageinstruments,tobecost‐effective,wasagoodstartatapareddownversionoftheVenusReferenceMission,
CouldaradaraddedtoVCM?, WeneedtoexploreVenusasanEarth‐likeplanetandasEarth’snearestexoplanet, TheDiscoveryandNewFrontiersselections,aswellasVenera‐DandEnvisionwill
bearuponwhatwedo,and ThenextDecadalSurveywillbe“anewballgame”,andweneedtokeepVenus“on
thefrontburner”.
Mission Reports
MasatoNakamuraprovidedastatusreportonJapan’sAkatsuki(PlanetC)mission.VenusorbitinsertionwassuccessfullyaccomplishedonDecember7,2015andfirst‐lightimageswereobtainedonDecember7‐11,2015.Recentnotabledatessincethenare:
Orbitalperiodreductionto10.5dayswithanapocenteraltitudeof0.36millionkmonDecember20,2015,
StartofregularobservationsonApril1,2016,
Orbitadjustmenttoaperiodof10.8dayswithapocenteraltitude:0.37millionkmonApril4,2016,
SuperiorconjunctionwithsolarcoronaobservationscenteredonJune7,2016,and
OneVenusyearinorbitcompletedonJuly19,2016.MasatoshowedanumberofinterestingrecentAkatsukiscienceresultsincluding:
Thefirst‐lightimagesinorbitfromthetheultravioletimager(UVI),
Surfaceimagesthroughcloudswiththe1μmIRcamera(IR1),
Daysideimagesforaltimetrywiththe2μmIRcamera(IR2),
Cloudtracking“Dayvs.night”comparisons,
Fine‐resolutionlimbimageswiththe2μmIRcamera(IR2),
Bow‐shapedstationarythermalfeatureswiththelong‐waveinfraredcamera(LIR),
VerticalscansofatmospherefromRadioScienceoccultations,and
PreliminarylightningobservationswiththeLightningandAirglowCamera(LAC).MasatoconcludedbynotingthatAkatsukiwassuccessfullyinsertedinVenusorbit,andon‐boardscienceinstrumentsareacquiringhigh‐qualityVenusdatasincethen.Althoughtheorbitismoreelongatedthanoriginallyenvisioned,thebenefitisbeingintheequatorialplanetostudyclouddynamics.ThescienceteamexpectstoachieveallsuccesscriteriaattheendofMarch2018,whenthenominalmissionperiodends.LudmilaZasovaprovidedastatusreportoftheJointRussian‐U.S.Venera‐DScienceDefinitionTeam(SDT)aka"TogethertoVenus".Thisefforthasbeeninplaceforseveralyearswithafirstreportexpectedinearly2017.GoalsoftheVenera‐DSDTareto:
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 9
• Identify,prioritizeanddevelopsciencegoals,investigations,andmeasurementsconsistentwiththecurrentVenera‐Dconcept,
• AssesstheVenera‐Dmissionarchitectureincludingpossiblemodularoptions(e.g.,subsystems)forcollaborationopportunitiesandrequiredinstrumentationcapabilities.Assesstechnologyreadinessleveltoimplementthemissionconceptandidentifyareasforwhichdevelopmentisrequired,
• Identifymissioncomponents(missionelements/subsystems/instruments)thatbestlendthemselvestopotentialinternationalcollaboration,
• OutlineamaturationscheduleneededtosupporttheVenera‐Dmissionforlaunchesinthepost‐2025timeframe,
• AssesstheprecursorobservationsandinstrumentationvalidationexperimentsneededtoenableorenhancetheVenera‐Dmission(e.g.,instrumenttestinginachamberthatemulatesthechemistry,pressuresandtemperaturesfoundintheatmosphereoratthesurfaceofVenus),and
• EvaluatehowVenera‐DwouldadvancethescientificunderstandingofVenusandfeedforwardtofuturemissionswiththeultimategoalofsamplereturn.
ThebaselinemissionconceptconsistsofanOrbiterwithapolar24‐hourorbitandalifetimegreaterthan3yearsandanupdatedVEGA‐typeLanderwithalifetimeof2+hoursonthesurface.Othercomponentsdiscussedaspotentialaugmentationsincludeafree‐flyingaerialplatform,balloons,asub‐satellite,andsmalllong‐livedsurfacestations.
ScienceprioritiesfortheOrbiterare:
Studyingofthedynamicsandnatureofsuper‐rotation,radiativebalanceandnatureofthegreenhouseeffect,
Characterizingthethermalstructureoftheatmosphere,winds,thermaltidesandsolarlockedstructures,
Measuringthecompositionoftheatmosphere,studytheclouds,theirstructure,composition,microphysics,UV‐absorberandchemistry,and
Investigatingtheupperatmosphere,ionosphere,electricalactivity,magnetosphere,andtheescaperate.
ScienceprioritiesfortheLanderare:
Performingchemicalanalysisofthesurfacematerialandstudyingtheelementalcomposition,includingradiogenicelements,
Studyingofinteractionbetweenthesurfaceandatmosphere,
Studyingthestructureandchemicalcompositionoftheatmospheredowntothesurface,includingabundancesandisotopicratiosofthetraceandnoblegases,
Performingdirectchemicalanalysisofthecloudaerosols,
Characterizingthegeologyoflocallandformsatdifferentscales,
Searchingforvolcanicandseismicactivity,and
Searchingforlightning.
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 10
Thecurrentmissionscenariois:
Amissionlaunchin2026,2027usingtheAngara‐A5rocketwithaKVTKorBrizupperstagewithaspacecraftmassonatrajectorytoVenusof6500kg,
Ascientificpayloadmass,includingsubsystemsandstructuralelementsof1650kg,plus100kgontheLander,and
AnOrbiter‐EarthcommunicationOrbiter.
Anaerialplatformcouldbeimplementedifitsfoldedsizeis3x6m,althoughitwouldrequirefurtherdevelopmentoftherocket,itsupperstageandthefairing.
ColinWilsondescribedaVenusLong‐LifeSurfacePlatform,aconceptdevelopedinresponsetoa2016ESACallforNewScientificIdeasforfuture>400M€missions.ThiswouldaddressthequestionofwhetherVenusisgeologicallyactiveby:
Establishingthelevelandstyleofseismicactivity,
Constraininginteriorstructure,
DeterminingVenus’spinrateandaxisvariations,
Searchingforseismicsignsofvolcanismandtectonics,and
Measuringinteriorheatfluxesandchangesinvolcanogenicgases.ThisSurfacePlatformisdesignedforalifetimeofover100Earthdaysandwouldbeequippedwithacorepayloadofaseismometer,aswellasp,T,wsensorstoquantifyatmosphericinfluenceontheseismometerandonRadioScience.Thesecoremeasurementscouldbesupplementedwithaheatfluxsensor,animagesensor,SiCgassensors,andelectricfieldsensors(tomeasureconductivityandDCelectricfields).Preliminaryworkwillfocusoncorepayloadtokeepdesignreferencemissionsimple.Powerwouldbe1or2units,eitherbatteryor(preferably)anRTG.TheCPUwouldbeimplementedinSiCwithonlyafewkbitsofonboardmemory,assumingADCofallsensorchannelswithlivetransmissionstospace.Optionsformissionscenariosareeitherastand‐aloneentryprobe,ordeliverytosurfacebyanentryprobe.Deliverybyanentryprobewouldprovidedescentmeasurementsincludingchemicalprofiles,andlandingsiteimagery.AproposalforthisVenusLong‐LifeSurfacePlatformwassubmittedtoESAinSeptember,withadecisionexpectedsoon.RichardGhailprovidedastatusreportontheEnVisionMissionconcept,anESAM5Proposal.RichardnotedthatthesciencecaseforEnVisionwasupdatedtomakeitmorepertinenttowherewearetoday.Thesenewgoalsareto:
Determinethelevelandnatureofcurrentgeologicalactivity, DeterminethegeologicaleventsthatgeneratedthewiderangeofobservedVenus’
surfacefeatures, AssesswhetherVenusoncehadoceansorwashospitableforlife,and Understandtheorganizinggeodynamicframeworkthatcontrolsthereleaseof
internalheatoverthehistoryoftheplanet.KeychallengesanddesigndriversarethatVenusisshroudedinpermanentclouds,witha90barsurfacepressure.The750°KVenusatmosphereisprohibitiveforsurfaceroversandtheatmosphereisopaquetoradiowavelengthsshorterthanabout3.5cm.However,otheraspectsoftheatmospherearebenignasthetotalelectroncountislessthan1TeV,theIR
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brightnesstemperatureisabout50KcoolerthanEarth,andorbitsaredrag‐freeabove220kmaltitude.OnekeytoimplementingEnVisionisadaptingtheUnitedKingdom’ssmallNovaSAR,alow‐costSARearth‐orbitingsatellite,toVenus.AnauxiliarySubsurfaceRadarSounderwouldacquireinformationontheshallowsubsurfacewiththegoalsof:
Characterizingthedifferentstratigraphicandstructuralpatternsofthesubsurface, Studyingthevolcanismphenomenaandtheirimpactonthegeologicalevolutionof
theVenusiantopography, Detectingofsubsurfacestructuresnotdirectlylinkedwithsurface, Analysingthematerialsinthesurfaceandsubsurfaceandtheirmetamorphism
linkedtotheburialprocess, Conductingsynergisticanalysistostudytheevolutionoftheplanetusingthedata
providedbySARandradarsoundersensors,and Measuringthetotalelectroncontentoftheionosphere.
These2radarswouldbecomplementedwiththreeauxiliaryIRspectrometers:
AVEM‐HspectrometerforprobingnearIRnight‐sidewindowswithhighspectralresolution,
AVEM‐UVspectrometerthatwillmapmesosphericSO2onthedayside,and AVEM‐MglobalIRmapper.
Inaddition,trackingandradiosciencewouldenableonetodistinguishbetweendifferentmodelsofinternalstructure.ThecurrentEnVisiondesignisa2‐mcubicplatformwithadrymassof950kg,plannedforlaunchbyAriane6.2rocketinOctober2029.Afterorbitinsertion,200daysofaerobrakingwouldachievecircularpolarorbitat259 kmaltitude.Operatingmodesduringeach24‐hourperiodwouldbe:
Communicationsmode:5½hourHGAEarth‐pointed,solararrayorientedtowardstheSun,
VenSARmode:Lessthan15minutes,nadirfacepointedtowardsVenus,rolledbyupto±35°aroundthespacecraftvelocityvector(x‐axis),and
Nightsidesciencemode:45‐minutenadirfacepointedtowardsVenus.Telemetrywouldbesupportedbyafixed3‐m,65WRF,Ka‐bandhigh‐gainantennaforaminimumlinkrateof4Mbps.HåkanSvedhemprovidedareportontheVenusExpressDataArchive.TheVenusExpressDataArchiveisanelementofESA’sPlanetaryScienceArchive(PSA),whichprovidestheservicestothesciencecommunityinPDS‐compliantformatsof:
AFTPrepositorywithalleightoftheESAplanetarymissiondatasets, Searchinterfaces(viametadataandmaps), Documentationsandancillarydatasets, Workshopsandtraining,and Supportinthecreationofarchive‐compliantdatasets.
VenusExpressdatavolumesintheESA’sPlanetaryScienceArchiveare: 1.8TbittotalforASPERA‐4(IonandElectrons), 0.5TbittotalforMAG(Magnetometer), 0.5TbittotalforSPICAV(imagingSpectrometer), 0.05TbittotalforSPICAV‐SOIR(IRSolarOcculrations), 0.002TbittotalforVeRA(RadioScience),
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5.1TbittotalforVIRTIS(ImagingSpectrometer),and 2.9TbittotalforVMC(VenusMappingCamera).
TotaldataforVenusExpressis11Tbit,about¼ofPSAtotalof42Tbit.
Open Microphone Presentations JörnHelbertinhisopenmicrophonepresentationonHighTemperatureNIREmissivityMeasurementsofVenusAnalogsnotedthathishightemperatureriginGermanythathedescribedduringVEXAG13meetingisnowupandrunning.TheemissivitiesofseveralVenusanalogssuchashematite,oxidizedandfreshbasaltshavenowbeenmeasuredforwavelengthsof0.8to1.2μ.OxidizedbasaltshaveflatspectrawhilefreshandLowSibasaltshavespectrathatshowanincreaseofemissivitywithwavelength.ColinWilsoninhisopenmicrophonepresentationonaProposedVenusUHFDataRelayStandardnotedthattheVenuscommunityshouldconsiderforminganInternationalWorkingGroupforVenusDataRelay.AtMars,thereisalreadyanagreedUHFprotocolfordatarelayfromlanders/rovers.EstablishingthisatVenuswouldbebeneficialforallinsitumissions,inparticularlong‐livedones.Thiswouldreduceneedtocarryone’sowndatarelayorbiter,increasedatareturnfrominsitumissionsandfromCubeSats/SmallSats,andhelpinmeasuringthepositionandvelocityofinsituassets.RequirementsforaVenusdatarelaystandardwouldsupportof1‐and2‐waycommunication,atfrequencieswheretheatmosphereislargelytransparent(e.g.UHForS‐band).Asabonus,apassivelisteningmodecouldbeimplementedtodetectradiofrequencyemissionsfromlightning.ColinWilsoninhisopenmicrophonepresentationontheEuropeanVenus360VisualRealityFilmnotedthatEuroVenusOutreachfilmsarenowpostedonthewebatwww.eurovenus.eu6x,wherethereareseveral10‐minuteepisodesthatdiscusswinds,temperature,volcanoes(SO2emissions),Venustransitsacrossthesolardisk,andthefutureofVenusexploration.Thefulldocumentary,whichrunsforabout52minutes,hasseveralVenusExpresslegacysessionvideos.A360°virtualrealityfilmisahitwithschoolchildren.AllofthisisbeingproducedbyWhiteFoxPictures(Lyon)withEU‐funding.
Poster Presentations TheposterpresentationsonTuesdayafternoonwere: HighTemperatureDiamondElectronicsforActuatorandSensorApplications,Brianna
Eller,etal., HowwelldoweknowVenus’GravityField?ARetrospective,PeterJames, UltravioletAbsorbersonVenus–Bacteria?,SanjayLimaye, ConstraintsonLithosphericRheologyandVolatileContentfromObservationsof
CoronaeonVenus–JosephO’Rourke, AutomatonRoverforExtremeEnvironments(AREE)‐JonathanSauder,etal.,and VenusHeatFlowInstrument–SueSmrekar.
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BriannaEllerinherposteronHighTemperatureDiamondElectronicsforActuatorandSensorApplications,notedthat:
DiamondisanidealsemiconductorforhightemperatureapplicationsandrequiresnocoolingatVenus’stemperature,
HerteamatArizonaStateUniversityisalreadypartofanongoingARPA‐EProjectandhasdevelopeddiamondhigh‐voltageandhigh‐currentdiodeswithaforwardcurrentdensity>500A/cm2at4V,moderatereverseleakagecurrentdensityof10mA/cm2at150V,andahighbreakdownat>500V.ThisteamisnowfabricatingBJTs.
Inaddition,thediodesdemonstratelowresistancecontactsonbothp‐andn‐typediamondusingTi/Pt/Aumetallizationincontactwithdiamondlayersdopedp‐orn‐typetoaconcentration>1020cm‐3.Ultrananocrystallinediamondreducesinterfaceresistanceattemperaturesupto600°C.
Thegoalistodevelopthesedevicesintolow‐noiseamplifierstoenabletheexplorationofVenusiansurface.
PeterJamesinhisposteronHowwelldoweknowVenus’GravityField?ARetrospectivedescriedhisstudiesonlithosphereandmantlethicknessesbasedontheMagellan’s180–degreegravityfieldfromAlexKonopliv.SanjayLimayeinhisposterUltravioletAbsorbersonVenus–Bacteria?addressedanumberofquestions:
WhyareVenusiancloudsaredifferentfromthoseonEarth?, Whyisn’ttheUVabsorberwellmixed?, WhatarecloudsonVenusmadeof?, CouldlifehaveevolvedontheVenusiansurface?andmostimportantly, WhenVenuswaswarmingandlosingitswater,couldbacteriahavemigratedtothe
clouds?.JonathanSauderinhisposteronAutomatonRoverforExtremeEnvironments(AREE)reportedonaJPL’seffortthathasdevelopedafeasibledesignforacapableVenussurfaceroverviatheNASAInnovationandAdvancedConcepts.SueSmrekarinherposteronVenusHeatFlowInstrumentdescribedaconceptualdesignthatisbeingpursuedviaNASA’sPICASSOProgram.
General Topics ColinWilsonprovidedanupdateontheVenus‐IIIBook,notingthatthiswillbepublishedasaSpecialIssueofSpaceScienceReviews(Springer)witheachchapteraccessibleasaSpaceScienceReviewspaper.9of11chaptershavebeenreceivedindraftform.Thefirstchapterisnowreadyforsubmission.5of11chaptershavebeenreviewedbytheeditorialboardforomissionsandoverlapwithotherschapters,withfeedbacksenttoauthors.ASpaceScienceReviewssubmissionspagehasbeenopenedforsubmissionforallofthechapters.NoamIzenbergprovidedaprovocativepresentationonLeveragingHumanSpaceflightforVenusPlanetarySciencebynotingthatahumanEarth‐Mars‐Venus‐Earthflybymissionwasenvisionedinthe1950’s.ThisledtoanumberofNASA’sEMPIREstudiesby
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 14
variousaerospacecompaniesinthe1960’sand1970’s.Afterahiatusinthe1980’sandthe1990’s,Mars,Moon,asteroidsandVenuscannowbeenvisionedashumanspaceflighttargets.Inparticular,fly‐bysofVenuscanoptimizehumanspaceflighttoMarsbyreducingthelaunchenergiesandshorteningtheflighttimes.NoamconcludedbynotingthattherearemultipleargumentsforhumanspaceflighttoincludeVenusasflybydestinationaloneand/oronwaytoMarsenablingsignificantopportunitiesforVenusplanetarycommunity(science)andsatisfyingNASAcommunities,suchasHEOMDandSMD).TimTitusprovidedanoverviewofUnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey(USGS)CapabilitiestoSupportVenusMissionsbynotingthattheoverallgoalsareto:
• GettheVenuscommunitythinkingaboutUSGScontributionsforfuturemissions,• GettheUSGSthinkingabouthowbesttosupportVenus,• ProvidelinkstoUSGSproducts/services,and• Prepareandeducatethenextgeneration.
KeyUSGScapabilitiestosupportthisare:• Datauserworkshops,• MRCTRGISLab,• Imageprocessing,• Cartography,• Nomenclature,• Dataarchiving,• Scienceexpertise,• Datafusion,and• Changedetection.
USGSconductscomparativeplanetologyoftectonics,volcanism,aeolianfeatures,andvolatilesusingopticalspectralwindowsandradarimaging.AkeysupportingUSGSsoftwaresuiteistheIntegratedSoftwareforImagersandSpectrometersVersion3(ISIS3)thatcurrentlysupportsover20pastandcurrentmissions.TheUSGSalsosupportsthesciencecommunityviathePDSImagingNode,aRegionalPlanetaryImagingFacility(RPIF),Nomenclature,andDataWorkshops.TimconcludedbynotingthatengagingUSGShastheadvantagesofcradle‐to‐the‐gravedatamanagementvia: UseofISIS3(whichhasfreetoolsforimageprocessingthatenabledata‐fusionand
changedetection), AssistingwithPlanetaryDataSystem(PDS)datadeliveries, ProvidingexpertiseinGISMapping,aswellas Providingexpertiseintectonic,volcanicandaeolianprocesses.KevinBainesreportedontheStudyontheValueofParticipatingScientist(PS)ProgramstoNASA.ThiswasoriginatedatanOPAGmeetingwheretherewasaconcernaboutpossibleinconsistenciesinhowParticipatingScientist(PS)programsareofferedandimplemented,andtheirvaluetothesciencecommunity.ThisledtoanOPAGfinding:“WeencourageNASAtoconsiderbroaderuseofparticipatingscientistprogramsandearlycareermissionsupport.AtNASA’srequestOPAG(workingwithotherAGs)willleadaWhitePaperprovidingmoredetailedinformationtoNASAabouttheimportanceandeffectivenessofsuchprograms.”OtherAnalysisGroupsalsosupportedthisfindingandaskedtobeinvolvedintheWhitePaper.ThegoalofthisWhitePaperistoevaluatePSprogramsbyassessingtheirvaluetoNASAmissions,tounderstandsimilaritiesanddifferences,togatherlessonslearned,andtoinvestigatehowtomaximizetheusefulnessoftheseprograms.
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AsurveywasconductedbyquestioningtheformerandcurrentParticipatingScientistsandanyoneelsewhohasaninterestin(orhadanopinionabout)theseprograms.Therewereabout200responsestothissurvey,ofwhichabout120werefromcurrentorformerParticipatingScientistsorGuestInvestigators.RespondentsnotedseveralbenefitstoNASA,includingintellectualdiversity,expertisethroughoutthemissiontimeline,increasedsciencereturn,andworkforcedevelopment.Theyalsocommentedonthepersonalvalueoftheprograms,includingcollaboration,dataaccess,uniqueexperienceofinvolvementinmissionteams,personalcareerdevelopment,andthedevelopmentofskillsforfuturemissionleadership.AsecondsurveyisnowbeingconductedbyquestioningformerandcurrentPrincipalInvestigatorsandProjectScientists.Preliminaryrecommendationsare:
• PSprogramsbringsignificantvaluetoNASAandtothescientificcommunity,andshouldbeincludedoneveryplanetarymission,whethercompetedordirected,
• ExpectationsfortimingandfundingofParticipatingScientistsshouldbeclearlycommunicatedto(andagreedwith)missionleadershipandtheplanetarycommunityearlyon,
• PSrequirementsshouldbeincludedintheAOforcompetedmissions,• PSsshouldbebroughtontoamissionasearlyasfeasible,bearinginmindthetrade
betweencostandintegrationissues,• PSswhoareselectedlaterinamission(e.g.,missionswithalongcruisephase)
shouldbegivenassistancewithteamintegrationandtraining,and• IfaPSprogramisnotincludedonamission,thisdecisionshouldbediscussedwith
theplanetarycommunity,e.g.,viathePlanetaryScienceSubcommittee(PSS).ResultsfromthesecondsurveyforPrincipalInvestigatorsandProjectScientistsarestillcomingin,withjustafewresponsesoutstanding.Thetimelineforcompletingthisis:
• DraftoftheWhitePaper,includingrecommendations,completedbytheendofDecember2016,and
• AfinalWhitePaperwillbesubmittedtoAGsandmadeavailabletoentirecommunity(e.g.,vianewsletters,LPIwebpage,AGwebpages,etc.)byendofJanuary.
GiventhestrongsupportreceivedforthisstudyfromtheAGChairsandPSS,itisexpectedthatthePSSwilldeliveraformalfindingaboutPSprogramstoNASAduringtheirFebruary2017meeting.Hopefully,theserecommendationswillbeincorporatedintofutureNewFrontiersandDiscoveryStep2studies.
Invited Student/Young Career PresentationsErinM.Bethell(agraduatestudentatCarletonUniversity,Ottawa,Canada)inherpresentationonDetailedMappingintheAlphaRegioandModelforCoronaenotedthatsomecoronaeappeartohavemultiplegenerationsofcircumferentialandradiatingsystems,whicharecommonlyassociatedwithvolcanicfeatures,suchasvolcanicflows,volcanoes,steep‐sideddomes,andcanali/sinuousrilles.ManyoftheseVenusiancoronalsystemsarelikelyunderlainbydykeswarmsthataresimilarinsizeandgeometrytorecentlydiscoveredradiatingmaficdykeswarmsonEarth.
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CandaceGray(asupportAstronomeratApachePointObservatory)inherpresentationonGround‐basedObservationsofVenusfromApachePointObservatorydescribedtheVenusoxygengreenlineobservationsfromuniqueauroraonVenus.ThislineismostintenseafterlargeCMEsandnotseenaftersolarflares.Electron‐excitedoxygenatomsarethelikelysourceofthesegreenlineemissions.VenusExpressradiooccultationsshowincreasesinthenight‐sideionosphericlayersfromnight‐sideelectronprecipitationfluxandenergyduringtheseCMEs,indicatingthatCMEsdepositmoreelectronsdeepintheatmosphereataltitudesof100to200km.SayaliMulay(anundergraduatebiotechnologystudentatFergussonCollege,Pune,India)inherpresentationonPlausibleOrganicChemistryinVenusianClouds,addressedthequestionof“CouldThereBeLifeonVenus?”bynotingthatthemiddleanduppercloudlayersonVenushaveenvironmentssimilartothatonEarth.Thesecloudlayersataltitudesof50kmto70kmarecomposedofreactivegasesatfavorabletemperaturesofabout10°Cto76°Cwithatmosphericpressuresofabout1atm.Theywouldbefavorableenvironmentsfororganicsasdemonstratedbythe1950’sMiller‐Ureyexperiment.SaraPort(agraduatestudentatUniversityofArkansas)inherpresentationonMetalFrostsonVenusdiscussedbismuthtellurides,sulfidesmixtures,andtheirrelationtometalfrostsonVenus.ThisaddressestheobservationthatradardatashowhighlyreflectivesurfacesconcentratedintheVenusianhighlandsataltitudesof2.5to4.75km.Bismuthtelluridesandsulfidesmixturesaregoodcandidates,asbismuth,tellurium,andsulfuroccuraroundvolcanicvents,arepresentinvolcanicgases,andcouldcondenseinthecoolerVenusianhighlands.DavidTovar(agraduateStudentatUniversityofMinnesota)inhispresentationonInsightsaboutFormationMechanismsofFractureZonesfromDetailedGeologicalandStructuralMapofAphroditeTerranotedthatriftzonesonVenusaremuchdifferentthanthoseonEarth.AdetailedstructuralanalysiswaspursuedinordertounderstandtheirevolutionandtogaininsightsintopossibleheattransfermechanismsonVenus.Hismodelsforfracturesformationsuggestthatexcavationfrombeneathplaysamajorroleinformingthesefracturezones.
Technology Reports
Prof.Carl‐MikaelZetterlingprovidedareportonSiliconCarbide(SiC)ElectronicsnotingthathehashadsuccessinfabricatingSiCsemiconductorsandmicrocircuitsinhislaboratory/cleanroomattheSwedishRoyalInstituteofTechnologyinStockholm.Wafersarebeingtestedattemperaturesof620°C.ASwedishHigh‐TemperatureElectronicVenusProjectwithagoalofuncooledoperationat460°CisunderwaywiththedevelopmentandtestingofSeismic,UVImage,GasSensors,Amplifiers,AnalogtoDigitalConverters,PowerSupplies,MicrocontrollersandMemories.Futureworkwillemphasizethedevelopmentofa4‐bitMicrocontrollerandMemorywith5000+transistorsusingintegratedSRAM,CMOS,andTTLtechnologies.
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JimCuttsprovidedareportonafeasibilitystudyofVenusSmallSatandCubeSatMissions.Studyobjectiveswereto:
ExaminethefeasibilityofVenussciencemissionsusingCubeSatsorSmallSats, Determinetheprimarytechnicalchallenges,and DescribethesciencethatcouldbeaccomplishedviaaVenusSmallSat.
Thekeychallengesarelaunchvehicles,communicationsaswellaslifetimeandreliability.TherearerideshareoptionsforgettingtoVenusthatincludeVenus,Mars,highearthorbitandlunarmissions.Eachoftheserideshareoptionshasitsownfrequency,candidateVenusmissions,triptimes,andaccessibleVenusorbits.VenusmissionridesharescouldsupportCubeSatorSmallSatmissions,whilemissionstoMars,highearthorbit,ortheMoonwouldhavetobethelargerandheavierSmallSats.JimconcludedbynotingthataffordablesolutionsexistforgettingbothCubeSatsandSmallSatstoVenusandthatSmallSatsinthehighcircularorbitcouldalsoprovideacommunicationsrelaysforlongdurationinsitumissionssuchasballoonsandsurfaceseismicmeasurements.BrianDrouinsupplementedthisdiscussionofCubeSatsandSmallSatsbyprovidingareportonVAST,theVenusTerahertzAtmosphericSounder,aSubmillimeter‐WaveSpectrometerforSmallSatellites.ThisisoutgrowthofVESPER,aVenusmissionconceptstudymanagedbyGoddardthatincludedaJPLsubmillimeterLimbSounder(SLS)toprovideupperatmosphericscience.THzlimbsoundingatVenuswouldyieldatmosphericdynamics,physicsandchemistry,including:
• 12CO/13COwindswith10m/saccuracyforaltitudes75to90km,and5m/saccuracyforaltitudesof90to120km,
• Verticalprofilesofatmospherictemperature,and• Mixingratiosoftracespecies,suchasH2O,HDO,H218O(isotoperatios),H2O2,O2,ClO
(catalyticagent),O3(catalyticagent),SO2,OCS,H2S,NO(diagnosticoflightning)BriannotedthatsignificantnumberofcomponentshavealreadybeenminiaturizedincludingaReferenceOscillator,a100GHzSynthesizer,a85GHzAmplifier,a600GHzReceiver,a600GHzCalibrationSwitch,WaveguideCalibrationLoads,andtheIFAmplifierChain.Continuingobjectivesinclude:
• Developingaflatantennathatcanbemounteddirectlyonasmallsatellite,• ReplacingthecurrentQuasi‐opticalFlipMirrorCalibrationwithacompact
WaveguideCalibrator,• IntegratingCMOSSynthesizerandSpectrometertoreducepowerconsumption,and• Expandingthebandwidthofreceivertocaptureimportantmolecularspeciesin
Venusianatmosphere. RajVenkatapathyprovidedareportonHEEETAEDC‐SuccessfulSeamandAcreageTesting,addressingheatshieldmaterialforextremeentryenvironments.ThegoalistodevelopthismaterialintimetosupportNewFrontiers‐4missions,suchasVenusLanderorSaturnProbes.Thenewseamdesignofgapfillerwithadhesiveperformstheprimaryfunctionofprovidingreliefofstructuralloadswithanaerothermallyrobustjoint.Asnocurrentgroundtestfacilityiscapableofcombinedthermo‐structuraltestingatextremeentryconditions,arc‐jettestingonpatcheswassuccessfullyperformed.
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TiborKremicprovidedareportonLong‐LivedIn‐SituSolarSystemExplorer,LLISSE,asmall(about10kg)probebeingdevelopedtoacquireandtransmitsimplebutimportantsciencemeasurementsforextendedperiodsfromthesurfaceofVenus.Thethreekeysupportelementsare:
Recentdevelopmentsinhigh‐temperatureelectronics, Emphasisonlowdatavolumemeasurement,and Noveloperatingschemes.
Sciencegoalsareto: Estimatemomentexchangebetweenplanetandatmosphere, Quantifynear‐surfaceatmosphericchemistryvariability,and Acquiretemporalweatherdatatoupdateglobalcirculationmodels.
ThisisbeingpursuedasaTechnologyDemonstrationformorecapablefuturelanders.Specificscientificmeasurementsmeasuredoverlongtimescalescouldbe:
Surfacewindspeedanddirection, Surfacetemperatureandpressure, Near‐surfaceatmosphericchemicalcompositions,andpossibly Incidentradiance,
OperationalgoalsaretooperateforaminimumofoneVenus“daylightperiod”andday/nighttransition(~60Earthdays),andtotakeandtransmitmeasurementsperiodicallytimedforscienceneedandtomaximizetransfertoorbiter/datarelay.Twoversions(onepoweredbyabatteryandonepoweredbythewind)arebeingpursued.Bothhavecommonfeaturesofbeingdeployablefromaballoon,alander,orviaitsownentryshell.Thebatteryversionwouldsenddatafor2minutesevery8hours.Thewindversionhasindefinitelife,withvariabledatatransmissionfrequencies.Currentprojectobjectivesaretodevelophalf‐andfull‐scaleprototypeprobes(onebatterypoweredandonewindpowered)andthendemonstratetheirperformanceinVenusconditionsusingtheGlennExtremeEnvironmentRig(GEER)bytakingscientificmeasurementsandtransmittingthedata.ThewindversionwouldbetestedwithsimulatedwindsinGEER.Long‐rangegoalsaretocompleteperformancetestsoffull‐scaleprototypemodelsrunningwitha10MHzcommunicationsystemwithin3years.Turbinetestsonawindpoweredhalf‐scalemodelwouldbecompleted2yearslater.TiborKremiccontinuedwithastatusupdateontheGlennExtremeEnvironmentRig(GEER)notingthatitscurrentcapabilitiesaretosimulateVenusatmosphereswithambienttemperaturesto500°C,pressuresof0.001to100barwithvirtuallyanychemistryforindefinitedurations.Thissupportsscience,technologyand/ormissionapplicationsfor:
Venus(environmentandchemistryfromthesurfacetoaboveclouds), Saturn,Jupiter,Uranus,andtheirmoons(chemistryandtemperature/pressure), Exoplanets(chemistryforscienceandmodelinputs).
MajorGEERsubsystemsincludepressurevessel,gascontainment,gasmixing,programmablecontrolsystems,pumpingstation,temperaturecontrol,analytics,andoperationstations–allhousedinaspeciallydesignedfacility.GEERiscomingbackonlineafteritsfirstyearofoperationsandarequiredmaintenanceperiod.Improvementsduringofthisrecentannualmaintenanceshutdowninclude:
Installinghighperformanceinsulationreplacingtheoldblankets, Polishingoftheinteriorsurfaces,
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 19
Improvingagashandlingsystemforevenhigheraccuracychemistryviaaprecisionhighpressuredosingpump,and
Addinganon‐siteQuadrupoleMassSpectrometerandaMicroGasChromatograph.GEERhasrecentlycompletedseveralspecificsuccessfulexperimentsinvolvingtestsatVenussurfacetemperaturesandpressureswithappropriatematerials.Testshavebeenconductedforover95daysatVenussurfaceconditionsinfullchemistryaswellas25dayswithaCO2/N2atmosphere.Thesetestsandexperimentssupportscienceexperimentsaswellastechnologydevelopmentandmaturation.Moreaccessandusers'capabilitiesarebeingprovidedby:
EstablishingScienceAdvisoryCommittee, Providingfeed‐throughsforpowerandothersignals, Accommodatingremoteusers, IncorporatingsmallParrpressurevesselsintosmallandquickoperations, Enhancingtheanalytics,and Providinganopticalport.
TiborconcludedbynotingthatGEERisavailableforusersviaaROSESproposal.TheGEERwebsiteishttps//geer.nasa.gov.NatashaJohnsonprovidedastatusupdateontheGoddardVenusPressureTestChamber,VICI,theVenusinsituChamberInvestigations.Thischamberwasbuiltfortestinghigh‐temperaturecomponentsbyDr.WilliamByrdatIowaStateUniversityandsubsequentlytransferredtoGoddardinmid‐summer2009.Itconsistsofastainlesssteelpressurevesselthatoperatesatmaximumpressureof95.6bar(1,387psi),andratedtoruptureat1500psi.Thecylindricalvolumewithadiameterof12.7cm(5inches)anddepthof30.5cm(12inches)isabout4liters.Testsarecomputer‐monitoredviaNILabView,whichrecordspressuresandtemperaturesinrealtime.TheseVICIcapabilitiessupporttestswithpressurerangeof1to95.6barsattemperaturesof298to740°K.GasescanbeCO2orN2atpressure,aVenusatmospheremixtureofCO2andN2,oramixtureofCO2andSO2at150ppm.ThischamberisavailabletothecommunityviaaROSESproposal.PleasefeelfreetocalloremailNatashaat:[email protected]/301‐286‐3919.
Venus Conferences
ColinWilsonprovidedarecapoftheVenus2016Conference,heldatOxfordUniversity,lastApril.Therewere140participantsfrom16countrieswith21“earlycareer”scientists(PhDstudentsand1styearpostdocs)supportedwithaccommodationcostsandregistrationfees.TheconferencecoveredallaspectsofVenussciencefromitsinteriorandsurfacetoitsatmosphereandmagnetosphere,spanningawiderangeofmissionsfromtheVeGaballoons,throughVenusExpress,onwardstoAkatsukiandfuturemissions.ConferencehighlightsincludedfirstresultsfromAkatsukiandaVenusExpresslegacysession.ColinalsonotedthatheislookingforwardtoaVenus2018Conference(possiblyinJapan)thatwouldcovertopicssuchasAkatsukiresults,aBepiColomboVenusflyby,DAVINCIand/orVERITAS,EnVision,VAMP,andanEMPIREmannedflyby.
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 20
PaulSteffesprovidedapreviewoftheVenusSciencePrioritiesforModelingandExperimentsWorkshopakaVenusModelingWorkshopthatwillbeheldattheOhioAerospaceInstitute,Cleveland,OH,onMay9‐11,2017.Thiswillbethethirdinaseries,followingtheVenusExplorationTargetsWorkshopinMay2014,andtheVenusSciencePrioritiesforLaboratoryMeasurementsandInstrumentDefinitionWorkshopinApril2015.TheMay2017workshopisintendedtobehighlyinteractiveandwillconsistofacombinationofcross‐disciplinaryplenarysessionsanddiscipline‐specifictopicalbreakoutsessions.Invitedtalkswillbesolicitedforthepurposeofprovidingafocusforcommunitydiscussion.Theplenarybriefingswillprovideshortoverviewsandsummaryinformationandwilllayafoundationforthebreakoutsections.TherewillbeaFocusSessiononVenera‐D,aswellasPlenarySessionswithfourbreakoutsontheInterior,ThermalandChemicalInteractionwiththeSurface,theNeutralAtmosphere,andtheUpperAtmosphereandIonosphere.DmitriTitovprovidedapreviewoftheESLABSymposiumonComparativeAeronomyofTerrestrialPlanetsthatwillbeheldMay2018,atESTEC,Noordwijk,Netherlands.Thisconferencewillemphasize:
Processesintheupperatmospheresandplasmaenvelopesofterrestrialplanets,TitanandMoon,
Escapeandevolutionoftheatmospheres, Resultsfromspacemissions,and Numericalmodelingandtheoreticalinvestigations.
Thiswillbeafollow‐ontoaMarsAeronomyConference,BoulderCO,onMay15‐19,2017.GiadaArneyfilinginforShawnDomagal‐GoldmanprovidedapreviewofComparativeClimatologyofTerrestrialPlanetsIIIConference(CCTP3).ThiswillbethethirdCCTPmeetingwiththefirstwasheldinBoulder,COin2012,andthesecondwasheldatMoffettField,CA(NASAAmes)in2015.Thiswillbeacross‐divisionalworkshopincludingEarth,planetary,astrophysics,andheliophysicsdisciplineswiththegoalofaddressingissuesacrossplanetarytargetsincludingtheEarthandexoplanetswithanoverarchingthemeof“SystemsInteractionsNearandFar”.AkeyquestionforthisConferenceis“Howbesttofostercross‐disciplinaryinteractionsthathaveanimpactbeyondthemeeting?Currentthoughtsaboutthevenuearesummer2018inanEastCoastcitysuchasWashington/Baltimore,Atlanta,orBoston.Expectedattendanceisabout100participants,similartotheCCTPIandCCTPIIConferences.TimTitusprovidedapreviewof5thInternationalPlanetaryDunesWorkshop.ThisworkshopwilladdressdunefieldsacrosstheSolarSystem:
• TerrestrialPlanets‐Venus,MarsandEarth(land/desertsandoceans/rivers),• Outerplanetsatellites,suchasTitan,and• Airlessbodies–cometsandvolatilerichimpacts.
Theobjectivesofthethisworkshopareto:• Increasethecollaborationsbetweenterrestrialaeolianscientistsandplanetary
aeolianscientistsacrossmultipledisciplines,• Facilitatethefusionofremotesensing,analogresearch,laboratoryexperiments,
includingwindtunnels,computermodelingandsimulations,• Preparethenextgenerationofscientists,andinparticular• Expandaeolianstudiestoterrestrialsubaqueousbedforms,whichmayprovide
analogsforaeolianprocessesonplanetssuchasVenus.
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SpecificquestionsforVenusdunesare:“Whydoweonlyobservetwolargedunefields?”and“Aretheremicrodunefields?”.ThosetwolargeVenusiandunefieldsareAl‐UzzaUndaewithadiameterof150kmandMenatUndaewithadiameterof100km.TheapparentlackofdunesonVenuscouldbeduetolowsurfacewindspeeds,alackofsediment,orpossiblythelackofhighspatialresolutiondataneededtoresolvesmallerdunefields.ThenextInterplanetaryDunesWorkshop,whichincludesafieldtriptoPinkCoralSandDunes,willbeheldatDixieStateUniversity,St.George,UtahonMay16‐19,2017.AbstractdeadlineisMarch7,2017.Registrationwillbeabout$225.Focuswillbeondunesinthickatmospheres,suchasVenuswithterrestrialoceansandriversasanalogs.Meetingwebsiteishttp://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/dunes2017/.Workshopoutput,asithasbeenforpastworkshops,isexpectedtobeanEOSMeetingReport,anAeolianResearchReport,aswellasaspecialissueofanappropriatescientificjournal.
ArtistConceptoftheVenusClimateMission(VCM)FlagshipMissionSpacecraft
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 22
FindingsandResolutionsfromVEXAGMeeting#14November29‐December1,2016meeting
Findings
Finding#1VEXAGagainrequestsareassessmentoftheVenusflagshipdescribedinthe2011PlanetaryScienceDecadalSurvey(PSDS),beforethenextDecadalSurveyconvenesin2020.TheVenusClimateMission(VCM)wasrankedbelowtheIceGiantsflagship,whosedetailedstudyisnearingcompletion.VCMwasrankedequallywithEnceladus,whichisnowakeytargetinthenewOceanWorldsprogram.ThereforeaVenusflagshipmissionconceptwillnowalsobenefitfrommoredetailedstudyinordertoprovideaframeworktothe2020deliberations.Drivingfactorsinclude(1)advancementsininstrumentmaturitythatwoulddecreasemassandcost,(2)newconceptsinaerialplatformsthatcouldenablegreaterverticalmobilityordirectedflight,(3)innovationingeophysicaltechniquesandtechnologythatcouldexpandthescopeoforbital,aerial,orlandedscience,(4)theimpactoftheimminentDiscoveryselectionsandupcomingNewFrontiersaswellasinternationalcompetitions,and(5)newobservationsofextrasolarplanetsthatframeVenusinthecontextofthequestion:“DoesEarth‐sizedmeanEarth‐like?”Finding#2VEXAGreaffirmsitsendorsementoftheVenusGravityAssistsScienceOpportunity(VeGASO).WeappreciatethattheBepiColombo(BC)missionhasalreadyagreedtooperateitsscienceinstrumentsduringtheVenusflybys,andweencouragecontinuedsciencedialogueabouttheforthcomingVenusgravity‐assistopportunitiesprovidedbySolarProbePlus,SolarOrbiter,EuropaMultiple‐FlybyMission,andotherfuturemissions.VEXAGsuggeststhatasimpletwo‐stepsequenceisthemostefficientpathtoVeGASOimplementation.BeginningwithBC,theflightprojectfirstissuesaProposalInformationPackage(PIP)thatwoulddescribe(ingreaterdetailthantheVeGASOreport),thespacecrafttrajectoryandoperatingparametersandcapabilitiesoftheinstruments.Next,NASAandESAwouldissueconcurrentParticipatingScientist(PS)callsthatwouldproposescienceconsistentwiththePIP,andselectionswouldbecoordinatedbetweenNASAandESA.VEXAGrecommendsthispathtoensurethatthebestpossibledetailedsciencejustificationforpotentialinvestigationsrestsdirectlywiththeproposers.VEXAGwillencourageparticipationbyinterestedUSscientistsataVeGASOsplintermeetingduringtheBepiColomboScienceWorkingTeaminMay2017.Finding#3VEXAGappreciatesrecentsupportfromthePlanetaryScienceDivisionforinternationalscienceparticipationandstronglyencouragesthecontinuedsupportoftheseopportunitiesforcollaboration.TheVEXAGcommunityisexcitedbythescienceresultsfromtheAkatsukimissiontoVenusandtheinvolvementofNASA’sParticipatingScientistsinthismission.VEXAGcontinuestosupportNASAparticipationinfutureinternationalpartnershipsincludingmissioncollaborationandparticipatingscientistprogramssuchastheupcomingEuropeanSpaceAgency’sM5opportunity.Continued
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 23
NASAsupportoftheCOSPARInternationalVenusExplorationWorkingGroupwillfacilitatetheneededdialogueamongotherinternationalpartnersincludingESA,JAXA,IKI,andISRO.Finding#4VEXAGencouragesNASAtosupporteffortsthatengageabroadercross‐sectionoftheUSsciencecommunityintheRussianVenera‐Dmission.WeareencouragedbytheimminentreleaseofthefirstreportoftheVenera‐DJointScienceDefinitionTeamandweanticipatecontinuedadvancementonthiseffort.WeappreciateNASA’ssupportofVEXAG’sMay2017WorkshoponVenusSciencePrioritiesforModelingandExperiments,whichwillincludeaprogramcomponentforVenera‐D.Finding#5VEXAGencouragesNASAtocontinueitsinvestmentinfacilities,instruments,andtechnologymaturationthatcriticallyenableVenusmissions,andwefurtherencourageidentificationofnovelopportunitiestodelivertheseassetstoVenus.VEXAGappreciatesNASA’ssignificantinvestmentinfacilitieslikeGEERandVICIandtheHomesteader,MatISSE,PICASSO,andespeciallyHOTTechprograms.VEXAGstronglyendorsesSmallSatandCubeSatdevelopmentandthegoaloftheirregularintegrationintofuturelaunches.Inparticular,VEXAGencouragesNASAtoconsiderdevelopmentofastandardizedinfrastructureforVenuscommunicationsrelay(suchastheUHFprotocolsforMars)thatcouldbesizedforsuchspacecraft.Sucharelaycouldfacilitatelong‐livedsurfaceoperationsorsecondarypayloaddrop‐offatVenus.Finding#6VEXAGencouragesNASAtoformacross‐divisionalresearchprogramforComparativeClimatologyoftheTerrestrialPlanets(CCTP).ItisessentialtounderstandVenus,Earth,andothersolarsystemworldsinthecontextofexoplanets,andtoleverageourdetailedknowledgeofEarthandoursolarsystemtounderstandnewdataonexoplanets.UnderstandingVenusandotherworldsinthecontextofsolar/stellarforcingsis,byitsverynature,aninterdisciplinaryendeavor.CollaborationswiththeEarthclimateresearchcommunityhavealreadyprovidedimportantexpertiseandtoolstounderstandingVenusandotherworlds.ThesesynergieshavebeenevidencedatpriorCCTPmeetings.CCTPmeetingshavebeenamodelofcross‐divisionalsupportandothercross‐divisionalprograms(NAI,NLSI/SSERVI,NeXSS)havebeensuccessful.ItwasourunderstandingthatarelevantnewprogramelementwasforthcomingandweurgeNASAtoimplementthisimportantopportunity.
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Finding#7VEXAGencouragescoordinationbetweenSMDandHEOMDtostudythesynergiespresentedbythehumanPathtoMars.Venusflybytrajectoriesofferuniqueelementsofthedelta‐Vvsmission‐durationtradespaceforheavylifttoMarsofpilotedmissionsandhuman‐infrastructureelements.ThisenablesuniqueopportunitiesforVenusscience–akintoVeGASOdescribedabove–fordeployedpayloadsandhuman‐in‐the‐loopflybyinvestigations.Further,Earth‐Venus‐Earthflybymissionscanalsoprovidethesesciencebenefitswhiletesting<1‐yrinterplanetaryflightsonthehumanspaceflightonthePathtoMars.Finding#8VEXAGencouragesPSDsupportforupcomingopportunitiesandinitiatives,includingtravelsupporttointernationalconferencesspecificallyforyoungcareerscientistsinthefollowingVenus‐relevantmeetingssupportedbyVEXAG:a.WorkshoponVenusSciencePrioritiesforModelingandExperiments,May2017,
Cleveland,Ohio.b.5thInternationalDunesWorkshop,May2017,StGeorge,Utah.c.15thVEXAGmeeting,OctoberorNovember2017,LocationTBD.d.CCTP3Conference,Summer2018,Atlanta,Washington/Baltimore,orBostone.PotentialTargetsWorkshop2018orlater.
ResolutionsVEXAGwillencourageVenussciencecommunityparticipationinthefollowingmeetings:
InterplanetaryProbesWorkshop14,TheHague,June2017 EuropeanPlanetaryScienceCongress(EPSC),Riga,Latvia,September2017. ESLABComparativeAeronomyConferenceESTEC,Noordwijk,Netherlands,May
2018 COSPAR,Pasadena,California,July2018 InternationalVenusConference,Japan,Sept12‐152018.
VEXAGrecognizestheupcomingmid‐termreviewofthe2011PlanetaryScienceDecadalSurveyandresolvestodevelopappropriateinputfromExecutiveCommitteedeliberationsandcommunityinputviatheVEXAGwebsite,VenusTownHallat2017LPSC,andWorkshoponVenusSciencePrioritiesforModelingandExperiments.BecauseoftheaccessibilityofVenusandthepotentialvaluetoscienceandinfrastructurethere,VEXAGresolvestoprovideinputtotheNASASmallSatandCubeSatrequestsforinformationthroughwebformsadvertisedtothecommunity.VEXAGrecognizestheimportanceoflong‐rangeplanningandresolvestocontributeonegeneralabstractandsolicitspecializedabstractsforthePlanetaryScienceVision2050WorkshoptobeheldatNASAHQearlyin2017.
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Attendees–VEXAGMeeting#14–November29–December1,2016First Name Last Name Affiliation
Michael Amato NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Giada Arney NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
David Atkinson Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Sushil Atreya University of Michigan
Kevin Baines University of Wisconsin‐Madison
Jeffrey Balcerski NASA Glenn Research Center
Patricia Beauchamp JPL‐Caltech
Max Bernstein NASA Headquarters
Erin Bethell Carleton University
Kerry Burns Raytheon/Jacobs/MSFC Environments
Josh Cahill Aplied Physics Laboratory,
Bruce Campbell National Air and Space Museum
Stephen Clark Spaceflight Now magazine
Valeria Cottini NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
James Cutts Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dwayne Day National Research Council
Shawn Donagal‐Goldman NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Brian Drouin Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Brainna Eller Arizona State University
Larry Esposito University of Colorado
Jeff Foust Space News
Martha Gilmore Wesleyan University
Zach Girazian NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Lori Glaze NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Richard Ghail Imperial College
Nicolas Gorius NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Candace Gray New Mexico State University
Jim Green NASA Headquarters
Robert Grimm Southwest Research Institute
David Grinspoon Planetary Science Institute
Jeff Grossman Massachusets Institite of Technology
Scott Guzewich NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 26
First Name Last Name Affiliation
Jorn Helbert German Air and Space Agency (DLR) Robert Herrick University of Alaska, Fairbanks Gary Hunter NASA Glenn Research Center
Noam Izenberg Aplied Physics Laboratory
Peter James Lunar and Planetary Institute Natasha Johnson NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Hilary Justh NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Walter Kiefer Lunar and Planetary Institute Erika Kohler NASA Goddard Space Flight Center David Kraemer Johns Hopkins University Tibor Kremic NASA Glenn Research Center
Sanjay Limaye University of Wisconsin
Iván López Ruiz Labraderas Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain
Ralph Lorenz JHU Applied Physics Lab
Alex Macdonald NASA Headquarters Paul Mahaffy NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Erwan Mazarico NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Alfred McEwen University of Arizona Patrick McGovern Lunar and Planetary Instutite Carolyn Mercer NASA Headquarters Michael Mischna Jet Propulsion Laboratory Sayali Mulay Fergusson College, Pune, India
Masato Nakamura Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Curt Niebur NASA Headquarters Sarah Noble NASA Headquarters
Adriana Ocampo NASA Headquarters Joseph O'Rourke California Institute of Technology
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 27
First Name Last Name Affiliation
Sara Port University of Arkansas Louise Prockter Lunar and Planetary Institute
Jonathan Rall NASA Headquarters Christina Richey NASA Headquarters
Jonathan Sauder Jet Propulsion Laboratory David Senske Jet Propulsion Laboratory Marcia Smith SpaceTech Suzanne Smrekar Jet Propulsion Laboratory Paul Steffes Georgia Tech University Ellen Stofan NASA Headquarters Hakan Svedhem European Space Agency
Timothy Titus U.S. Geological Survey Tommy Thompson Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dmitry Titov European Space Agency David Tovar University of Minnesota Melissa Trainer NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Allan Treiman Lunar and Planetary Instutite Constantine Tsang Southwest Research Institute
Ethiraj Venkatapathy NASA Ames Research Center Paul Voosen Science magazine
Jennifer Whitten National Air and Space Museum Thomas Widemann Paris Observatory Colin Wilson University College London
Ludmila Zasova Space Research Institute (IKI), Moscow
Carl‐Mikael Zetterling Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm
First Name Last Name Affiliation
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 28
Agenda‐VEXAGMeeting#14
Tuesday‐Thursday,November29–December1,2016JamesWebbAuditorium,NASAHeadquarters(GroundFloor,WestEntrance)
300ESt.SW,WashingtonDC20546
MeetingTheme‐UnveilVenus:WhyisEarth'ssisterplanetsodifferent?"
Tuesday,November29,2015‐8:00AM–7:00PM–NASAandMissionReports8:00 Sign‐In,PickupHandouts,Coffee8:15 WelcomeandObjectivesof14thVEXAGmeeting–BobGrimm
‐ VenusExplorationSlogan&VEXAGWeb‐SiteUpdates8:30 NASAReports8:30 PerspectivesonVenusExploration–EllenStofan8:45 UpdateonNASAPlanetaryScienceDivision‐JimGreen
‐ ResponsetoVEXAGMeeting#13Deliberations‐ Mid‐TermDecadalSurveyPreviewandVeGASOUpdate
10:00 COFFEEBREAK
10:30NewFrontiersProgram–CurtNiebur10:50NASAR&A–JonathanRall/MaxBernstein11:10 NASAHeadquartersQ&A12:00Student/YoungCareerMeetandGreet/Luncheon
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 MissionReports1:00 AkatsukiReport–MasatoNakamura1:30 Venera‐DJointScienceDefinitionTeam–LudmilaZasova,DaveSenske,1:45 PlanetaryCubesats–MichaelSeablom,NASAHeadquarters2:00 PlanetarySmallsatROSESStudyCall–CarolynMercer,NASAHeadquarters
2:00 COFFEEBREAK
2:30–NewFrontiersVenusFlagshipMissionsForums2:30 VenusNewFrontiersForum–MarthaGilmore,Lead3:15 VenusFlagship(Mid‐TermDecadal)MissionForum–BobGrimm,Lead4:30OpenMicrophoneandPosterPreviewPresentations4:30 OpenMicrophonePresentations(5minutes/2view‐graphseach)5:00 PosterPresentationsPreviews(2‐3minutes/1view‐grapheach)5:15 SummaryofTuesday’sKeyItems/WednesdayAgendaItems–BobGrimm5:30 POSTERPRESENTATIONS7:00 ADJOURN
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 29
Wednesday,November30,2016‐8:00AM–5:00PM8:00 Sign‐In,PickupHandouts,Coffee8:30 SiCelectronics–Carl‐MikaelZetterling(Web‐Ex)8:45 AnUncooledLong‐LifeVenusSeismometryStation‐ColinWilson(Web‐Ex)9:00 VenusIIIBook‐ColinWilson(Web‐Ex)9:15 2016InternationalVenusConferenceRecap‐ColinWilson(Web‐Ex)9:30 EnvisionMissionOverview‐RichardGhail(Web‐Ex)9:45 VERITAS(SueSmrekar,PI),anorbitingmissiontoproducehigh‐resolution topographyandimagingaswellasglobalsurfacecomposition;and10:00 DAVINCI(LoriGlaze,PI),anatmosphericprobemissiontostudytheorigin, evolution,andchemicalprocessesoftheatmosphere.10:15 ThoughtsforHumanExplorationofVenus–NoamIzenberg10:30COFFEEBREAK11:00 Student/YoungScholarInvitedTalks11:00 DetailedMappingintheAlphaRegioandModelforCoronae
‐ErinM.Bethell,CarletonUniversity,Ottawa,Canada11:10Ground‐basedObservationsofVenusfromApachePointObservatory
‐CandaceGray,ApachePointObservatory,11:20PlausibleOrganicChemistryinVenusianClouds,SayaliMulay,
FergussonCollege,Pune,India11:30 MetalFrostsonVenus,SaraPort,UniversityofArkansas11:40 NewInsightsaboutFormationMechanismsofFractureZonesfromDetailedGeologicalandStructuralMapofAphroditeTerra(15S‐20S/110E‐124E),DavidTovar,UniversityofMinnesota
11:50 LUNCHBREAK
Wednesday,November30,2016–1:30–5:00PM–ScienceandTechnology1:30 VenusSmallsatandCubesatMissions–JimCutts,1:45 Submillimeter‐WaveSpectrometerforSmallSatellites
‐BrianDrouin,TheodoreReck2:00 USGSCapabilitiestosupportVenusMissions–TimTitus2:15 VenusExpressDataArchives–HakanSvedhem
2:30 COFFEEBREAK
3:00 HotTechProgramOverview–AdrianaOcampo3:15 Long‐LivedStationforVenus‐TiborKremic,LudmilaZasova,SanjayLimaye,andGaryHunter3:30 HEEETAEDC‐SuccessfulSeamandAcreageTesting–RajVenkatapathy3:45 VenusEntryProbePrototype(HomesteaderProgram)LoriGlaze4:00 GlennExtremeEnvironmentRig(GEER)‐TiborKremic,GaryHunter4:15 VenusInsituChamberInvestigations(VICI)–NatashaJohnson4:30 SummaryofWednesday’sKeyItems/ThursdayAgendaTopics–BobGrimm4:45 ADJOURN
VEXAG#14 Meeting Summary 30
Thursday,December1,2016‐8:00AM–12:00PM–VEXAGActivities8:00 Sign‐In,PickupHandouts,Coffee8:30 Welcome–BobGrimm8:40 VenusGoals,ObjectivesandInvestigationsUpdate–BobGrimm9:00 PSSParticipatingScientistSurvey–KevinBaines9:15 WorkshoponVenusSciencePrioritiesforModelingandExperiments
‐TiborKremic,PaulSteffes9:30 ESLABSymposiumonComparativeAeronomyofTerrestrialPlanets,‐May2018,ESTEC–DmitriTitov(Web‐Ex)9:40 ComparativeClimatologyofTerrestrialPlanetsIIIConferencePreview
‐ ShawnDomagal‐Goldman9:50 InternationalDunesWorkshops–TimTitus10:00 Japan’sInternationalVenusConference,September2018‐MasatoNakamura10:10 COFFEEBREAK10:40 ProposedFindingsandResolutions/VEXAGGoals&Plansfor2017 ‐BobGrimm11:45 GroupPhoto12:00 ADJOURN
1:30 VEXAGExecutiveCommitteeMeeting
OpenMicrophone@PosterPresentations–Tuesday,November29,2016HighTemperatureDiamondElectronicsforActuatorandSensorApplications‐BriannaEller,RobertNemanich,JamesLyons,StephenGoodnick,andSrabantiChowdhuryVenusinabox–HighTemperatureNIREmissivityMeasurementsofVenusAnalogs‐JörnHelbert,AlessandroMaturilli,DarbyDyar,SabrinaFerrari,DennisWendler,MartyGilmore,ThomasWidemann,MarioD‘Amore,SueSmrekarHowwelldoweknowVenus'sgravityfield?Aretrospective‐PeterJamesUltravioletAbsorber(s)onVenus–Bacteria?Physical,ChemicalandSpectralPropertiessimilartosomeMicro‐organisms?‐SanjayS.Limaye,RakeshMogul,ParagVaishampayan,ArifAnsari,andGrzegorzSƚowikConstraintsonLithosphericRheologyandVolatileContentfromObservationsofCoronae–JosephG.O’Rouke,SueSmrekar,andL‐NMoresiAutomatonRoverforExtremeEnvironments(AREE)‐JonathanSauder,EvanHilgemann,MichaelJohnson,BernardBienstock,AaronParnessADEPTSR‐1FlightExperimentOverview‐PaulWercinski,AlanCassell,BrandonSmith,BryanYount,ShakibGhassemieh,EthirajVenkatapathy,andSomDutta VenusUHFDataRelayStandard‐ColinWilsonEuroVenusOutreachFilms–ColinWilson