PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 31 (August 2, 2026) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Matthew R Perry Co-Editors: Alex Morgan, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor@psi.edu X: @pen2tweets Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. International Commission on Space Infrastructure Resilience - Applications Open 2. New Horizons Open Science Team Meeting #60 on the Kuiper Belt and Outer Heliosphere: Abstracts Due 31 August 3. Risks to the Mars Exploration Program from Skyfall (MEPAG Update) 4. [AGU 2026] Session DI012: The Role of Cores - Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Thermal, Chemical, and Magnetic Influences in Earth and Terrestrial Planets 5. [AGU 2026] Session SY029: Open Source Tools for the Earth & Space Sciences - Breaking Discipline Silos to Accelerate Discovery 6. DPS Seeks a New Education Subcommittee Chair 7. DPS Seeks a New Secretary 8. DPS 2026 AAS Journals Reviewer Training Workshop 9. [DPS-58] Regular Registration Extended 10. [DPS-58] Dependent Care Applications 11. [DPS-58] Conference Lodging 12. [DPS-58] Field Trip at DPS-58 Meeting 13. [DPS-58] Information for Exhibitors and Sponsors 14. [NASA] PDS: Aperiodic Data Releases in 2026.07 15. [NASA] ROSES-25 Amendment 68: New Opportunity - D.8 Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations 16. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 17. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 18. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers Commercial/Fundraising Announcements: C1. Commercial: Intro to Astronaut Geologic Training 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 INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE - APPLICATIONS OPEN The winners of the 2026 Schweickart Prize in Planetary Defense have opened a global call for applications from experts interested in shaping a safer and more resilient future in space. As critical human systems and activities expand into orbit and across the Earth-Moon system at an increasing rate, emerging infrastructure will face natural planetary hazards that remain insufficiently understood. Damage or disruption to orbital assets will produce cascading consequences for the Earth-based systems and services that increasingly depend upon them. Anticipated periods of heightened meteoroid activity between 2028 and 2034, coinciding with rapid growth in orbital infrastructure, underscores the urgency of the Commission's work. The International Commission on Space Infrastructure Resilience will convene specialists across science, engineering, space operations, policy, law, economics, insurance, security, and related disciplines. Together, they will develop authoritative multidisciplinary reports examining natural space hazards, infrastructure risk, and practical measures the international community can take now to strengthen resilience, inform responsible development, and protect humanity's expanding presence beyond Earth and systems on Earth. Applications are invited from individuals able to contribute relevant expertise, evidence, analysis, organization, management, and/or institutional perspectives. Join the Commission: https://forms.gle/vcqdR3A57o2FVw9m8 More information: https://www.schweickartprize.org 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 NEW HORIZONS OPEN SCIENCE TEAM MEETING #60 ON THE KUIPER BELT AND OUTER HELIOSPHERE: ABSTRACTS DUE 31 AUGUST Please join us at the next New Horizons (NH) Science Team Meeting #60 at Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ, 28-30 September 2026! Currently at 65 au, NH is the only mission in the outer heliosphere and Kuiper Belt, and is beyond most of the obscuring foreground of the zodiacal cloud. It is measuring interstellar pick-up ions for the first time together with solar wind plasma, energetic particles, and Galactic Cosmic Rays. The encounter with the Termination Shock is estimated between 2027 to the mid 2030's. NH's UV spectrometer and optical telescope have uncovered unprecedented spectra of the cosmic background and other features that may reveal new astrophysical processes in the galaxy and beyond. NH's dust counter continues to detect a high dust flux that is contrary to the theoretical expectations of a Kuiper cliff, potentially pointing to a significantly extended Kuiper Belt. Lastly, together with a ground-based search program, further, new distant KBOs are being detected that NH can observe remotely to provide critical constraints on planetesimal formation. Please register and submit your abstract here: https://forms.gle/pYwwUkyJdt29s2TY7 [Edited for length] 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 RISKS TO THE MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAM FROM SKYFALL (MEPAG UPDATE) NASA announced that the SkyFall payload on the SR-1 mission will be managed and funded out of the Mars Exploration Program (MEP), under the MEP future missions budget line. SkyFall is an uncompeted payload not identified as a priority in the Decadal Survey or Mars Future Plan. Due to assignment of SkyFall to the MEP budget, plans for future low-cost and commercial missions have been indefinitely delayed. Extreme schedule and budget pressure to launch SkyFall in 2028 puts all MEP activities at risk, including active missions. In the strongest terms, MEPAG encourages NASA to continue supporting the MEP program of record and the Mars Future Plan in parallel with SkyFall to ensure progress on Decadal Survey science, preserve science and engineering workforce capabilities, and build on the past success of the MEP. To increase awareness of this issue, I have shared the memo linked below with key members of Congress (my own product, not a product of MEPAG). Please use and share this document as needed to help spread the word. Link to the memo: https://tinyurl.com/yc38xmz9 - Briony Horgan Chair, Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) [Edited for length] 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 [AGU 2026] SESSION DI012: THE ROLE OF CORES - MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES ON THERMAL, CHEMICAL, AND MAGNETIC INFLUENCES IN EARTH AND TERRESTRIAL PLANETS We are convening the AGU 2026 session "The Role of Cores: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Thermal, Chemical, and Magnetic Influences in Earth and Terrestrial Planets". We hope to bring together researchers from across seismology, mineral physics, geochemistry, core dynamics, (paleo)magnetism, geodesy and related fields to discuss how metallic cores influence the properties and evolution of Earth and other terrestrial bodies. We anticipate a lively and interdisciplinary discussion and believe that your perspective would be a valuable addition. Further details of the session can be found here: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu26/prelim.cgi/Session/281042 Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope to see you there! Seth Jacobson On behalf of the conveners: Alfred Wilson-Spencer Seth Jacobson Krista Soderlund 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 [AGU 2026] SESSION SY029: OPEN SOURCE TOOLS FOR THE EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES - BREAKING DISCIPLINE SILOS TO ACCELERATE DISCOVERY Abstracts due: Wednesday, 5 August 2026, 23:59 PM EDT (03:59 UTC) Link to session: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu26/prelim.cgi/Session/282486 This session invites contributors and users of open-source scientific software from across the full breadth of AGU, from Earth's deep interior to its surface, oceans, ecosystems, and beyond into space, to share tools, workflows, and lessons learned. We welcome presentations on software that enables reproducible science, supports FAIR data principles, or integrates AI/ML approaches to accelerate discovery. A central goal is cross-disciplinary exchange: exposing the community to tools they may not encounter within their own discipline and fostering new collaborations. Submissions may address software design, community governance, interoperability with existing infrastructure, cross-disciplinary reuse, AI and LLMs, or the challenges of sustaining open-source projects. We aim to build a more connected and open science software ecosystem. Invited speakers: Tasha Snow, University of Maryland - College Park (UMD), Nicolas Featherstone, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Boulder Conveners: Regupathi Angappan, Ankit Barik, Miguel A. Jimenez-Urias 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 DPS SEEKS A NEW EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR The DPS seeks a successor to Dr. Sanlyn Buxner as Chair of the DPS Education Subcommittee. If you are interested please contact DPS Chair Scott Murchie and submit a CV at DPS.chair@aas.org or scott.murchie@jhuapl.edu. Regular duties are to: - Maintain the Education portion of the DPS website together with the DPS webmaster - Maintain the searchable database of Research Experiences for Undergraduate students in planetary science - Maintain the searchable database of graduate schools for planetary science - Intermittently, manages DPS Education and Outreach Grants - ($200 to $500) - awarded on rolling basis - Support education-related activities during DPS meetings in coordination with DPS leadership and other committees 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 DPS SEEKS A NEW SECRETARY The DPS seeks a successor to Dr. Denise Stephens as DPS Secretary. If this impactful position interests you, submit a letter of interest and a CV to DPS Chair Scott Murchie at scott.murchie@jhuapl.edu or DPS.chair@aas.org. As Secretary, you would be part of the Executive Committee, helping to lead the division and formulate rapid responses to planetary community events. Regular duties are to: - Compile and distribute eNews to DPS members; - Maintain DPS records and documents including the DPS Meeting Guide, instruction guides for subcommittees, official Committee and Subcommittee membership lists, letterhead, bylaws, and membership data; - Oversee membership applications and the membership roster; - Collected statements from candidates for elected DPS offices identified by the Nominating Subcommittee, circulate them, conduct the annual election, and announce the results; - Prepare prize certificates and citations; and - Contribute to the corporate memory of DPS along with other officers. 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 DPS 2026 AAS JOURNALS REVIEWER TRAINING WORKSHOP At the 2026 DPS Meeting, AAS Publishing is offering a Peer Review Training Workshop designed to give you the skills you need to review manuscripts with clarity and impact. What: Hands-on peer review training led by AAS Journal editors When: Sunday, 25 October 2026, 8:00am - 1:00pm (lunch included!) Where: Spokane Convention Center, Spokane, WA Who: Open to graduate students through senior researchers Cost: Free of charge - Learn what to expect when you're asked to referee a paper. - Practice reviewing with real examples and create your own referee report. - Work directly with AAS Journal Lead and Scientific Editors. - Gain insights into what reviewers look for - and how that makes your own writing stronger. - Earn a certificate of completion and be designated in the AAS system as a certified reviewer. Applications for the 25 October 2026 workshop are now open! Submit your application by 10 August 2026 for full consideration at: https://tinyurl.com/PRW-form This is a separate application process from other DPS workshops. 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 [DPS-58] REGULAR REGISTRATION EXTENDED https://aas.org/meetings/dps58/registration https://submissions.mirasmart.com/DPS58/Splash.aspx Regular registration for DPS-58 at the Spokane Convention Center, 25-30 October 2026 has been extended by 3 weeks. DPS-58 will be a hybrid meeting with live-streamed in-person and recorded virtual talks and in-person posters. Three classes of registration include: full in-person, full virtual, and virtual meeting observer for low cost. NEW regular registration deadline: 20 August 2026 Late registration begins: 21 August 2026 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 [DPS-58] DEPENDENT CARE APPLICATIONS The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) offers Susan Niebur Dependent Care grants to support attendance at DPS-58 to be held 25-30 October 2026 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. These grants provide financial assistance to qualifying members to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for child care, elder care, spousal care, etc., at the meeting location or at home during the DPS conference. Apply for a dependent care grant here: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application/ 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [DPS-58] CONFERENCE LODGING Please consider arranging your hotel for DPS-58 at official conference lodging. There is a block of rooms at government rates, and lodging is connected to the conference venue - the Spokane Convention Center - via a covered a walkway. The hotel features an onsite restaurant and other options are located nearby. Utilizing this lodging will cut both cost to attend the conference and carbon footprint to attend the conference by eliminating the need for car rental. For more information, please visit: https://aas.org/meetings/dps58/accommodations 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 [DPS-58] FIELD TRIP AT DPS-58 MEETING The DPS-58 Local Organizing Committee is hosting a field trip to the Channeled Scablands Sunday, 25 October, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm for $165/person. Spokane, WA sits on the Columbia River flood basalt that is an analog for basaltic flows on the Moon, Mars, Mercury, and Venus. The Channeled Scablands were formed on the lavas by megafloods from Pleistocene glacial Lake Missoula, and are an analog to Martian outflow channels. The cost covers lunch and bus transportation from the conference center and back in time for the opening ceremony. Most stops are overlooks, but some have very short walks to outcrops. You must register for the meeting and add the trip to your registration. Login to the registration page with the same username and password that you used to register, scroll down, add the trip to your itinerary, and proceed to checkout. 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 [DPS-58] INFORMATION FOR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS The Local Organizing Committee for DPS-58 is soliciting exhibitors and sponsors for the meeting. Exhibitor spaces are located in a heavily trafficked are between the poster sessions and common area in a large shared ballroom. If you are interested, please contact Rod Nenner (rod.nenner@aas.org) at the American Astronomical Society. 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: APERIODIC DATA RELEASES IN 2026.07 In July 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission: - 2026.07.31 BepiColombo SPICE Release 11 - 2026.07.30 Mars Express HRSC Map Projected REFDR Extension9 v4.0 - 2026.07.28 Voyager 1 Magnetometer Solar Wind Interplanetary Cruise Data - 2026.07.28 Voyager 2 Interplanetary Cruise Trajectory Data - 2026.07.24 Voyager 2 Neptune Planetary Radio Astronomy Data - 2026.07.24 Odyssey THEMIS SDP Consolidated releases 1, 2, 77-96 - 2026.07.24 Odyssey THEMIS GEO Consolidated releases 1, 2, 77-96 - 2026.07.23 Jupiter Support Observations - Gemini T-ReCS - 2026.07.23 MAVEN SPICE Release 45 - 2026.07.16 Hayabusa2 NIRS3 Level 2D Thermal Excess Removed - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC Post-Launch Raw Data - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC Post-Launch Partially Processed Data - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC Jupiter Encounter Raw Data - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC Jupiter Encounter Partially Processed Data - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC Pluto Cruise Raw Data - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC Pluto Cruise Partially Processed Data - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC KEM1 Cruise Raw Data - 2026.07.14 New Horizons MVIC KEM1 Cruise Partially Processed Data - 2026.07.14 Mission-Independent DSN Calibration Data - 2026.07.07 ExoMars2016 SPICE Release 17 - 2026.06.30 GRAIL Mission Gravity Model To access those data: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260731.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: 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] ROSES-25 AMENDMENT 68: NEW OPPORTUNITY - D.8 HABITABLE WORLDS OBSERVATORY PRECURSOR SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a large-aperture ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared observatory concept recommended by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine decadal survey, "Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s" (Astro2020). The HWO mission concept would be the first space mission designed specifically to search for life outside our Solar System and would be capable of performing transformative science across astrophysics, areas of planetary science, and more. Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations (HWO-PSI) program element D.8 of ROSES aims to advance the scientific foundation that would reduce risk for a potential future HWO mission. ROSES-2025 Amendment 68 releases D.8 Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations (HWO-PSI) as a new opportunity in ROSES-25. Mandatory NOIs are due by September 10, 2026, and proposals are due by October 26, 2026. Proposals submitted to this program will be evaluated using dual anonymous peer review. Questions concerning D.8 HWO-PSI may be directed to Megan Ansdell at Megan.C.Ansdell@nasa.gov. For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdzyzsjk [Edited for length] 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 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 No new meetings added. 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 SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Brian Jackson https://psj.aas.org A Look at Eight Outbursts of Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke Ky Huynh et al. 2026 PSJ 7:179 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae844f 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 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 Features in the Visible Spectra of the Enceladus Particle Plume and E Ring: Potential Evidence of Organic Materials and/or Missing Sub-Micron Particles M. M. Hedman & S. M. MacKenzie https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009647 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: INTRO TO ASTRONAUT GEOLOGIC TRAINING Immerse yourself in volcanic, aeolian, and tectonic planetary analogs this fall with bonus experiences in commercial spaceflight. For every registrant, The Planetary Society will receive a $100 donation to support ongoing planetary science and exploration. Confirm your spot today at: https://planex.space/planetarysociety Questions? Contact Kirby Runyon: 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. 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