Editor: Mark V. Sykes
Co-Editors: Matthew R Perry, Alex Morgan
Email: pen_editor@psi.edu
X: @pen2tweets
Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social

o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o

1. Editorial: An Investigative Report on NASA Planetary R&A Funding
2. [EPSC 2026] Planetary Science Education in Europe - An Overview
3. 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship at Purdue University
4. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month
5. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship - Application Deadline November 1, 2026
6. [NASA] PDS: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 78
7. [NASA] PDS: Aperiodic Data Releases in 2026.08
8. [NASA] PDS: More Aperiodic Data Releases in 2026.08
9. [NASA] Planetary Science Early Career Award 2024 Showcase
10. Symposium on Planetary Regolith and Aeolian Processes: A Tribute
    to the Life and Career of Rob Sullivan
11. Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series
12. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions
13. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers
14. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers
15. Planetary Research - New Papers

Commercial/Fundraising Announcements:

C1. What is your Opinion of Commercial Lunar Data?
C2. Join the Planetary Society for the Earth and Space Experience


o---------------------------------------------------------------------o

1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1

EDITORIAL: AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON NASA PLANETARY R&A FUNDING

Planetary research and analysis programs (R&A) provide critical support
for developing innovative Solar System exploration missions and
maximizing their scientific return. They support cutting-edge research
and prepare the next generation of planetary scientists. They have had
strong support in decadal surveys by the National Academies and in
Congressional legislation. Both have recommended funding growth with
specific targets. This report uses information acquired by Freedom of
Information Act requests to show that NASA has ignored these
recommendations, effectively flat-funding R&A programs from
FY2011-FY2025. During this time, these programs lost at least 30% of
their value from inflation. We need Congress to take more specific
action to remedy this crisis and this report makes specific
recommendations for that action. To read the full report, go to:

https://tinyurl.com/yc6xa8t7

Mark V. Sykes

NOTE: The opinions expressed here are those of the author and not the
Planetary Science Institute.


2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2

[EPSC 2026] PLANETARY SCIENCE EDUCATION IN EUROPE - AN OVERVIEW

(Public event at the EPSC 2026 meeting)

A splinter session on 8 September, Tuesday, 16:00-17:30 will be
organized at the EPSC 2026 conference in Hague, Room Ganymede (Salsa).
The event is to briefly collect and discuss how and where planetary
science education is going on in Europe mainly at university level.
Everybody is welcomed. Persons not attending can also contribute later
online. For further info, contact kereszturiakos@gmail.com.


3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3

51 PEGASI B POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY

The Heising-Simons Foundation is accepting applications for their 51
Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship program in Planetary Astronomy now
through October 1, 2026.

At Purdue University we have a wide range of professors across Earth,
Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and Physics and Astronomy who can
act at fellowship mentors. Research areas include (but are not limited
to): Geophysics, geochemistry, surface processes, clouds and climate,
thermochronology, in-situ instrumentation and planetary missions,
habitability, biosignatures, origins of life, paleomagnetism, surface
processes, and circumstellar disks. More information on our research
and resources available to fellows can be found at:

https://www.eaps.purdue.edu/research/51pegbfellowship.html


4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4

PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH

The September image of the month is now available at the IAG's
Planetary Geomorphology web page:

https://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com

This month's topic is "Are Parts of Venus' Oldest Rocks Actually Its
Youngest?", contributed by Prof. Paul K. Byrne, Associate Professor
from Washington University in St. Louis.

You can follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on
BlueSky: @planetarygeomorph.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/planetarygeomorph.bsky.social

or Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology

Best wishes,
Noe Le Becq (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group)


5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5

NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP - APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1, 2026

The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers US and international scientists
the opportunity to advance their research while contributing to NASA's
scientific goals. The NPP supports fundamental science; explores the
undiscovered; promotes intellectual growth; and encourages scientific
connections.

Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete
one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA's missions
in Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics,
biological and physical science, aeronautics and engineering, human
exploration systems, space operations, space technology, and
astrobiology. Search for NPP research opportunities here:

https://npp.orau.org/applicants/opportunities.html

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before
beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree
requirements. Please see current eligibility requirements. Stipends
start at $70,000 per year, with supplements for higher cost-of-living
areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is
available for relocation and health insurance, and $10,000 per year is
provided for travel and professional development.

Applications typically are accepted three times each year: March 1,
July 1, and November 1.

For further information and to apply, visit:

https://npp.orau.org/applicants/index.html

Questions: npp@orau.org


6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6

[NASA] PDS: MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 78

The NASA Planetary Data System announces Release 78 of data from the
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). This release contains raw,
calibrated, and derived data products nominally covering the time
period November 9, 2025, through February 8, 2026. Some instrument
teams are delivering more recent data. The data are archived at
various PDS nodes:

- CRISM, SHARAD, and Radio Science data at the Geosciences Node
- HiRISE, CTX, and MARCI data at the Cartography and Imaging Sciences
  Node
- MCS data at the Atmospheres Node
- SPICE data at the NAIF Node

The data may be accessed at

https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/mro/

For a view centered on this release, go to:

https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260901.shtml

To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following
link:

https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-Release.shtml

All available PDS data may be found at:

https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/data-search/

For further information, see the PDS Home Page:

https://pds.nasa.gov/

MRO data releases occur every three months. The next release is
scheduled for September 1, 2026.


7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7

[NASA] PDS: APERIODIC DATA RELEASES IN 2026.08

In August 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data,
none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission:

- 2026.08.26 MEX SPICAM MARS CLEANED UV RDR V2.0
- 2026.08.25 MGS MOLA Derived Topography - MEGDR and SHADR Dataset
- 2026.08.24 MSL ChemCam Passive Surface Spectra
- 2026.08.13 Voyager 2 Uranus Planetary Radio Astronomy Data
- 2026.08.11 NH (New Horizons) Mission Instrument-Specific and
  Mission-Wide Docs
- 2026.08.11 NH Documents for REX (Radio Science Experiment)
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Data Archive
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Post-LAUNCH Checkout Raw Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Post-LAUNCH Checkout Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Jupiter Encounter Raw Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Jupiter Encounter Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Pluto Cruise Raw Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Pluto Cruise Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX Pluto Cruise Tracking and Navigation Files (TNF)
- 2026.08.11 NH REX KEM1 Cruise Raw Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX KEM1 Cruise Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.11 NH REX KEM1 Cruise Tracking and Navigation Files (TNF)
- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI (LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager) Post-Launch
  Checkout
- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Post-Launch Checkout Partially Processed Data
- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Jupiter Encounter Raw Data

To access those data, go to:

https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260831.shtml

To access all data archived in PDS:

https://pds.nasa.gov


8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

[NASA] PDS: MORE APERIODIC DATA RELEASES IN 2026.08

In August 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data,
none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission:

- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Jupiter Encounter Partially Processed Data
- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Pluto Cruise Raw Data
- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI Pluto Cruise Partially Processed Data
- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI KEM1 Cruise Raw Data
- 2026.08.10 NH LORRI KEM1 Cruise Partially Processed Data
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP (Solar Wind Around Pluto) Post-Launch Checkout
  Raw Data
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Post-Launch Checkout Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Jupiter Encounter Raw Data
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Jupiter Encounter Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.07 NH Jupiter Encounter Mission Phase SWAP Data Summary
  Plots
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Pluto Cruise Raw Data
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP Pluto Cruise Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.07 NH Pluto Cruise Mission Phase SWAP Data Summary Plots
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP KEM1 Cruise Raw Data
- 2026.08.07 NH SWAP KEM1 Cruise Calibrated Data
- 2026.08.07 NH Cruise to First Kuiper Belt Object SWAP Data Summary
  Plots
- 2026.08.06 Magellan Radio Science raw data
- 2026.07.31 NEW HORIZONS SPICE Release 10

To access those data, go to:

https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260831.shtml

To access all data archived in PDS, go to:

https://pds.nasa.gov


9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9

[NASA] PLANETARY SCIENCE EARLY CAREER AWARD 2024 SHOWCASE

Join us September 16 from 3-5 p.m. ET on Webex for the 2024 Planetary
Science Early Career Award Showcase, featuring talks from selected
investigators from ROSES-2024. Speakers will highlight projects
spanning astro materials, planetary defense, digital terrain models,
expanding access to planetary science, and open-source tools for gamma
ray and neutron spectroscopy. Each presenter will give a 15-minute talk
followed by 3 minutes for questions.

Please join the showcase at:

https://tinyurl.com/mvdr8979


10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10

SYMPOSIUM ON PLANETARY REGOLITH AND AEOLIAN PROCESSES: A TRIBUTE TO THE
LIFE AND CAREER OF ROB SULLIVAN

Please register for the "Symposium on Planetary Regolith and Aeolian
Processes: A Tribute to the Life and Career of Rob Sullivan" as the
hotel block is closing on September 11, 2026.

The symposium will take place October 12-13, 2026 at Cornell University
in Ithaca, NY. We are finalizing the program which will Include public
lectures, keynote speakers, and contributed talks on topics where Rob
made major contributions, such as Martian aeolian features, tectonics
on Europa, and geology of asteroids.

For more information and registration, go to:

https://tinyurl.com/2jjd3zx5

If you are unable to attend but want to share a short remembrance of
Rob, please share your short 10-30 second video at:

https://cornell.app.box.com/f/404648923baa402fbe2b9568024b12c8

SOC: Don Banfield (Ames), Jim Bell (ASU), Alex Hayes, Julie Rathbun
(Cornell)


11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11

ICE GIANT SYSTEMS SEMINAR SERIES

Date/Time: September 8, 11am ET
Speaker: Thomas Doucot (University of Zurich)
Topic: Modelling the Vertical Structure of Uranus' and Neptune's
Atmospheres

The composition and temperature-pressure profiles of Uranus' and
Neptune's atmospheres are not well-determined. As observational data
are limited, we often rely on chemical equilibrium computations to
infer atmospheric abundances and cloud formation. The inferred
atmospheric structures, however, strongly depend on several fundamental
assumptions such as the elemental abundances and ratios, the
condensation properties of the assumed species, or a reference
temperature for the adiabatic profile. In this presentation, I will
discuss how different assumed atmospheric metallicities, element ratios
and 1-bar temperatures can shape the vertical structures inferred by
chemical equilibrium models. For the cases considered here, we find
that chemical abundances and cloud deck altitudes can vary by more than
an order of magnitude. Additionally, thermal profiles can differ by
several tens of kelvins due to 1-bar temperature and composition. We
advise that future ground-based observations and a dedicated mission to
Uranus and/or Neptune are required to better characterize the
atmospheric structure and composition of the Ice Giants.

For information about the series, visit:

https://icegiantsseminar.jhuapl.edu

[Edited for length]


12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12

PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS

Note: Many face-to-face meetings going forward will have online
components. Check their websites for details.

Posted at https://planetarynews.org/meetings.html

December 7-12, 2026
Toward Sub-micro-arcsecond Astrometry: Scientific Opportunities and
Measurement Pathways
https://conf.koushare.com/conf/casfis-smastro2026/
Shanghai, China


13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13

PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS

Direct Links to Open Access Papers

Editor, Brian Jackson
https://psj.aas.org

Hydrogen Implantation on the Moon: Effect of Plasma Sheath
Trinesh Sana and S. K. Mishra 2026 PSJ 7:206
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae9951

Climates of Gl 514 b
Hector E. Delgado Diaz et al. 2026 PSJ 7:207
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae9861

Experimental Ejecta Emplacement in Variable Gravity and Its Effects on
Landscape Evolution
Kirby D. Runyon et al. 2026 PSJ 7:208
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae9875


14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH: PLANETS - NEW PAPERS

Direct Links to Open Access (OA) Papers

Editors-in-Chief, Amanda Hendrix & Debra Buczkowski
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21699100

Inferring Io's Internal Properties by Combining Gravity Measurements
and Volcanic Activity
A. Veenstra, M. Rovira-Navarro, W. van der Wal
https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009885


15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15

PLANETARY RESEARCH - NEW PAPERS

Direct Links to Diamond Open Access Papers

Editor-in-Chief, Mark A. Wieczorek
https://planetary-research.org

No new papers.


C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1

COMMERCIAL: SURVEY ON ATTITUDES FOR COMMERCIAL LUNAR DATA

What are your attitudes about Lunar Commercial Data? Potomac Database
Systems wants your honest feedback in a brief survey. The survey
includes a text box for your unfiltered comments, and you may answer
anonymously or by identifying yourself. We'll present preliminary
survey results later this month at the LEAG (Lunar Exploration Analysis
Group) meeting at Purdue University.

The survey link is https://forms.gle/bFgxhZjFZ6imzp488


C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2-C2

COMMERCIAL: JOIN THE PLANETARY SOCIETY FOR THE EARTH AND SPACE
EXPERIENCE

This is the last chance to register for the Earth and Space Experience
this fall in partnership with The Planetary Society. Be sure to
register for this primer on planetary surface processes and human
spaceflight.

For every registrant, we will donate $100 to The Planetary Society to
support our mission of Solar System exploration. Register by September
15 at:

https://planex.space/planetarysociety

Note that education discounts are available from the $1500 normal
registration price.

Question? Contact kirby@planex.space


***********************************************************************
* The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly.
* Current and back issues are available at https://planetarynews.org
*
* To subscribe, go to https://planetarynews.org and click on Subscribe.
*
* An unsubscribe option is available at the end of every PEN email. Or
* send an email to pen_editor@psi.edu
*
* Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor@psi.edu.
* Announcements and other messages should be brief with links to URLs
* for extended information, including detailed descriptions for job
* announcements. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. Go to
* https://planetarynews.org/submission.html for complete submission
* directions.
*
* PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute
* (https://www.psi.edu) using no NASA funds. All editorial work is
* volunteer.
***********************************************************************