PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 14 (April 5, 2026) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Alex Morgan Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Matthew R Perry Email: pen_editor@psi.edu X: @pen2tweets Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Postdoctoral Position: MERTIS/BepiColombo Data Analysis and Performance Monitoring 2. Space Environments Engineer Position With Amentum at NASA-MSFC 3. Origins2026 Abstract Deadline Extended 4. [EPSC] Session TP12: Sediment Transport Processes in the Solar System 5. Mercury 2026 Meeting: Registration and Abstract Submissions Open 6. T-Minus 22 Days until The Next Generation of Io Science Workshop 7. LPI Webinar: Translating Your Planetary Science Skills 8. Artemis II Citizen Science 9. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 10. PDS Geosciences Node Virtual Open House - April 21 11. [NASA[ PDS: OSIRIS-REx Derived Products 12. [NASA] PDS: OSIRIS-REx Altimetry Working Group Shape Model 13. [NASA] PDS: Aperiodic PDS Data Releases in 2026.03 14. [NASA] PDS: Odyssey Data Release 95 15. [NASA] PDS: Lucy L'LORRI Comet 3I/ATLAS Observations 16. [NASA] ROSES-25 Amendment 51: C.6 Development and Advancement of Lunar Instrumentation Not Solicited in ROSES-25 17. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 18. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 19. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers 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 POSTDOCTORAL POSITION: MERTIS/BEPICOLOMBO DATA ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING We are pleased to invite applications for a two-year postdoctoral research position at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Berlin, Germany, focusing on MERTIS/BepiColombo data analysis, performance monitoring and contribution to the global map of Mercury surface composition. For more details about the position and to apply, please use this link: https://tinyurl.com/4p7cyfyf Application deadline: May 3, 2026 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 SPACE ENVIRONMENTS ENGINEER POSITION WITH AMENTUM AT NASA-MSFC This position will assist the Space Environments Team at the MSFC Natural Environments Branch through providing support to the space environments program leads. Specific support to be provided includes, but is not limited to, the following: - Provide space environments expertise to programs and projects, including consultation on space environments specifications and updates. - Perform oversight/insight activities to ensure subsystem and spacecraft designs are implementing space environment program requirements. - Review delivered products to verify they sufficiently document the environment definition and implementation in design, testing, and analysis. - Provide information and deliverables for key systems engineering program/project milestones. - Develop, prepare, and deliver technical programmatic briefings, as requested. - Coordinate with space environments subject matter experts for technical support, analysis, product reviews, and environments development. - Report to program leadership on technical milestones and accomplishments on a regularly approved basis. - Evaluate risk implications and communicate risk at the program level. - Assist in the book management of the Design Specification for Natural Environments. - Analyzing space environment parameters with respect to program needs. Additional details and application link can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/vv8y3tct 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 ORIGINS2026 ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED The abstract submission deadline for Origins2026 (Paris, July 5-10, 2026) has been extended to April 6, 11:59 PM (Paris time). Details about the conference, abstract submission, and registration can be found at: https://originsparis.sciencesconf.org/ Travel awards for early career researchers are available. 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 [EPSC] SESSION TP12: SEDIMENT TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM 6-11 September 2026 in The Hague, The Netherlands The "Sediment Transport Processes in the Solar System" (TP12) session aims to bring together researchers from different disciplines to stimulate knowledge exchange based on the broad topic of sediment transport processes under varying planetary conditions, rather than one planetary environment. Our session will provide a platform for cross-planetary discussion of the processes that erode, transport, and deposit sediments across planetary surfaces in the Solar System. Considered sediment transport processes include aeolian, fluvial, and mass wasting. We welcome contributions on Mars, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, Titan, icy satellites of the outer Solar System, comets, and/or asteroids, to submit to our session. Session details: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2026/session/59230 Abstract instructions: https://www.epsc2026.eu/programme/how-to-submit.html The abstract deadline is the 13 May 2026 (13:00 CET). Best wishes, Giulia Magnarini, Lisanne Braat, Zack Dickeson, and Lonneke Roelofs Sediment Transport Processes in the Solar System convenors 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 MERCURY 2026 MEETING: REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPEN All researchers and members of the planetary science community are invited to participate in Mercury 2026, the international meeting dedicated to the study of the planet Mercury. This year's edition will take place from 1-4 September 2026 at KU Leuven, Belgium. Mercury 2026 will bring together scientists involved in observations, modeling, laboratory experiments, and mission data analysis related to Mercury. A particular focus will be placed on the latest developments and discoveries from ESA-JAXA's BepiColombo mission. Registration for the meeting is now open, with early registration rates available prior to June 1, 2026. Abstracts are also now being accepted, with a deadline of June 30, 2026. Visting the meeting website for more details: https://ees.kuleuven.be/en/mercury2026 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 T-MINUS 22 DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT GENERATION OF IO SCIENCE WORKSHOP Io is the most volcanically active world in the Solar System, yet fundamental questions persist regarding its origin, evolution, present-day activity, dynamic atmosphere, and its complex interactions with the rest of the Jovian system. Io's extreme activity makes it an important analog for understanding processes relevant to the early Earth and Moon, and other tidally heated bodies across the cosmos. The Next Generation of Io Science Workshop will be held from 4/22/26 - 4/23/26. The Workshop will be hybrid, with both in-person participation at the Applied Physics Laboratory (Laurel, MD) and online. Participation is free but required by 4/8/26. The goal of this workshop is to bring together interdisciplinary scientists to discuss outstanding science questions about Io. We solicit participation from the broad community - whether you have worked on Io before or not! More information: https://secwww.jhuapl.edu/EventLink/Event/610 Science organizing committee: James Keane, Laz Kestay, Fran Bagenal, Brett Denevi, Anton Ermakov, Ben Greenhagen, Katherine de Kleer, Alfred McEwen, Ryan Ogliore, and Scott Bolton 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 LPI WEBINAR: TRANSLATING YOUR PLANETARY SCIENCE SKILLS April 7, 2026, 4 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. CT/ 2 p.m. MT/ 1 p.m. PT Planetary and astrobiology research requires a variety of physical science skills that can translate to other fields. Hear from our panelists about the ways that they have leveraged their experience with remote sensing skills, numerical modeling, geological mapping, geosciences, and so much more! To register, visit: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_pKGO1rznSuOfWqIznSUMrg 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 ARTEMIS II CITIZEN SCIENCE During the Artemis II mission, the astronauts will be observing the darkened side of the Moon to look for impact flashes caused by meteoroids striking the surface and vapourising. We need you and your telescope to observe flashes simultaneously (Monday April 6 - Tuesday April 7), helping to avoid false positives from cosmic rays and allowing us to measure the relative sensitivity of the two observing methods. See the website for more details: https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science/ Email benjaminf@lanl.gov with any questions 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The April image of the month is now available on the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: https://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com This month's topic is "Lake Stars as an Earth Analog for Europa's Manannan Crater Spider Feature", contributed by Dr. Lauren Mc Keown, Department of Physics, University of Central Florida You can follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/planetarygeomorph.bsky.social or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology Best wishes, Lonneke Roelofs (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group) 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 PDS GEOSCIENCES NODE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 21 The PDS Geosciences Node will host a virtual Open House on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm Central. This event is open to all members of the planetary community and is an opportunity to hear an update from and ask questions of GEO Node personnel. The Open House will start with a ~40-minute presentation covering an overview of the Geosciences Node, our tools and services, recent achievements, our transition of PDS GEO data to the cloud, and priorities for the year ahead. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. Additional information and meeting connection details may be found here: https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/openhouse/openhouse2026.htm Optionally, you may indicate your interest and receive a meeting reminder via this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/pmvxukzE4Q We look forward to seeing you! The PDS Geosciences Node (geosci@wunder.wustl.edu) 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [NASA] PDS: OSIRIS-REX DERIVED PRODUCTS The OSIRIS-REx Radio Science Working Group Derived Gravity Bundle v1.0 contains a single data collection with gravity results derived from the raw radio science data and the particle trajectories, as well as ancillary products and an overview of the contents of the collection. The document collection contains copies of the two published papers presenting these results. This bundle can be found at: https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:orex.derived_gravity The OSIRIS-REx Derived Image Processing Bundle v1.0 contains surface characterization derived data products that quantify the spectral, albedo, and morphological properties of asteroid Bennu observed by the OSIRIS-REx OCAMS instrument. The data can be found at: https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:orex.image_processing The OSIRIS-REx Derived Astronomy Products Bundle contains Astrometry and Photometry derived data products that quantify the astrometric and photometric properties of asteroid Bennu. The data can be found at: https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:orex.astronomy Links to all OSIRIS-REx bundles are at: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260326.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov/ 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 [NASA] PDS: OSIRIS-REX ALTIMETRY WORKING GROUP SHAPE MODEL This is the release of the OSIRIS-REx Altimetry Working Group Shape Model bundle v1.0. his bundle collects the global and regional digital terrain models and associated spice data derived from the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) and Stereophotoclinometry (SPC) components. The data are available at: https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:orex.altimetry Links to all OSIRIS-REx bundles are at: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260327.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov/ 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 [NASA] PDS: APERIODIC PDS DATA RELEASES IN 2026.03 In March 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission: - 2026.03.27 Pioneer Venus Orbiter Ultraviolet Spectrometer Attitude data - 2026.03.16 BepiColombo SPICE Release 10 - 2026.03.13 Psyche SPICE Release 3 - 2026.03.17 Mars Express OMEGA High-Level Products incl. Ice Cloud Index - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI Jupiter Encounter Calibrated Data - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI Jupiter Encounter Raw Data - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI KEM1 Cruise Calibrated Data - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI KEM1 Cruise Raw Data - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI Post-Launch Calibrated Data - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI Post-Launch Raw Data - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI Pluto Cruise Calibrated Data - 2026.03.11 New Horizons PEPSSI Pluto Cruise Raw Data - 2026.03.11 Voyager 2 Neptune Low Energy Charged Particle Data Bundle - 2026.03.10 CLPS SPICE Release 3 To access those data https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260331.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 [NASA] PDS: ODYSSEY DATA RELEASE 95 The NASA Planetary Data System announces Release 95 of data from the Mars Odyssey Orbiter. This release contains raw, calibrated, and derived data products nominally covering the time period July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025, for the GRS/HEND/NS suite, and June 2, 2025 through September 1, 2025, for THEMIS. Since the previous Mars Odyssey release, one raw Radio Science data volume has been released, with data covering the period November 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. GRS/HEND/NS and Radio Science data are archived at the PDS Geosciences Node, THEMIS data at the THEMIS Data Node, and SPICE data at the PDS NAIF Node. The data may be accessed from: https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/odyssey/ Or for a more dataset-oriented view: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260401.shtml Odyssey releases occur every three months. The next release is scheduled for July 1, 2026. All available PDS data may be found at: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/data-search/ To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-Release.shtml For further information, see the PDS Home Page: https://pds.nasa.gov/ 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 [NASA] PDS: LUCY L'LORRI COMET 3I/ATLAS OBSERVATIONS The NASA Planetary Data System's (PDS) Small Bodies Node (SBN) is pleased to announce the release of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS observations taken by the Lucy LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager (L'LORRI) instrument. This data was taken between 2025-09-14T23:59:40.725Z and 2025-09-17T00:10:27.891Z and released to the public on April 1. For details, please see the main SBN webpage: https://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/ 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 [NASA] ROSES-25 AMENDMENT 51: C.6 DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF LUNAR INSTRUMENTATION NOT SOLICITED IN ROSES-25 When it is solicited, C.6 Development and Advancement of Lunar Instrumentation (DALI) supports the advanced development of instruments that show promise for use in future lunar missions including NASA's Artemis Program, lunar orbiters, lunar landers, and commercial ventures. The goal of the DALI program is to develop and demonstrate science instruments for lunar missions to the point where they may be proposed in response to future announcements of flight opportunities without additional extensive technology development. The DALI Program is intended to enable technology infusion into NASA lunar science missions to take place in a timely and efficient manner. As such, the technology readiness levels (TRLs) that DALI supports are TRL 4-6. ROSES-2025 Amendment 51 announces that C.6 DALI which was TBD, will not be solicited in ROSES-2025. However, we anticipate that the content of this program will be solicited in ROSES-26. Go to: https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025 and will appear on SARA's ROSES blog at: https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/solicitations/roses-2025/ Questions concerning C.6 DALI may be directed to Anna Maria Pal at hq-dali@mail.nasa.gov. 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 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 June 18-19, 2026 The Apophis T-3 Years: Knowledge Opportunities for the Science of Planetary Defense https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2026/ Padua, Italy July 6-10, 2026 Origins2026 https://originsparis.sciencesconf.org/ Paris, France August 14-15, 2026 International Workshop on Cometary Astronomy VII http://www.icq.eps.harvard.edu/IWCA.html Cambridge, MA September 1-4, 2026 Mercury 2026 https://ees.kuleuven.be/en/mercury2026 Leuven, Belgium September 6-11, 2026 Europlanet Science Conference https://www.epsc2026.eu/ The Hague, The Netherlands October 5-8, 2026 Serbian Astronomical Conference XXI https://astro.matf.bg.ac.rs/kas21/ Belgrade, Serbia 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Brian Jackson https://psj.aas.org Color and Photometric Properties of Newly Formed Impact Craters on the Moon Emerson Speyerer et al. 2026 PSJ 7:73 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae4a06 19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19 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 The Spectroscopic Impact of Sublimation Under Martian Surface Conditions: Implications for Sample Analysis by the Rosalind Franklin Rover and Biosignature Preservation Louisa J. Preston et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009430 Modeling Wind-Driven Waves on Other Planets: Applications to Mars, Titan, and Exoplanets Una G. Schneck et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009490 Magnetic Field Induced by Convective Flow in Ganymede's Subsurface Ocean L. Sachl, J. Kvorka, O. Cadek, J. Velimsky https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009456 Testing the Limits of Provenance Analysis From Basaltic Fluvial Sediment Near Sandvatn, Iceland, as a Mars Analog Audrey R. Putnam et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009400 Fractal Dimensions of Venusian Lava Flows: New Findings for Atla Regio and Review of Previous Analyses E. M. Recchuiti et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009142 Evaluating Seismic Ambient Noise Techniques for Imaging Lava Tubes on the Moon Sabrina Keil et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009576 A Panspermia Origin for Venus Cloud Life E. Guinan et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009296 Were There Tides on Ancient Mars? M. Jolley, M. Gugliotta, J. A. M. Green https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009292 Deciphering the "Missing Xenon Paradox" in Celestial Bodies: A Multifaceted Perspective Toward Demystifying This Enigma Avinash Kumar Both et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009110 The Efficient Delivery of Highly Siderophile Elements to the Core Creates a Mass Accretion Catastrophe for the Earth Richard J. Anslow et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009328 Interior Models of Mercury and Conditions for Iron Snow Formation in a Fe-S-Si Core Abigail H. Dunnigan et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009368 Mercury's Tectonic and Geodynamic History: 1. Contractional Tectonic Landform Analysis and Tectonic Strain Using Machine Learning A. Broquet & J. C. Andrews-Hanna https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009584 Mercury's Tectonic and Geodynamic History: 2. Contribution of Membrane-Flexural Strains to the Tectonic Record A. Broquet & J. C. Andrews-Hanna https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009585 *********************************************************************** * 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. 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. ***********************************************************************