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


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.


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.


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,


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.


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.


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?


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:


• 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.


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


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),


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.


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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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,


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.


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.


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


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


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.


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.


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


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



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



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


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


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

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