Travel support To Attend NASA Mars 2020 4th Landing Site Workshop

NASA and ESA are studying concepts for missions to return martian samples to Earth. On 26th April 2018 representatives from both agencies signed a Statement of Intent to recognise and commit to pursue common objectives leading to a joint MSR campaign.

NASA’s Mars 2020 rover mission will cache samples intended for future return to Earth. A potential reference campaign architecture involves NASA leading a Sample Return Lander (SRL) mission, and ESA leading an MSR Orbiter mission, as well as providing a Sample Fetch Rover and Sample Transfer Arm to the SRL mission. NASA would provide the Sample Capture, Handling, and Containment system and the Earth Entry Vehicle to the MSR Orbiter. These endeavors may be in concert with other international or commercial partners.

With the understanding that NASA’s Mars 2020 mission would be the first step in this potential MSR campaign, the selection of the Rover landing site is a critical factor in determining what samples may be collected, and ultimately what science may be accomplished using them should they be returned to Earth.

To facilitate participation in the 4th and final Mars 2020 Landing Site Workshop from those in the community residing in Europe, ESA intends to support attendance for scientists via a competed call for travel funding. The workshop is organised by NASA's Mars Programme Office at JPL and will take place on 16-18 October 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale in Glendale, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

For more information please see the workshop website: Mars 2020 4th Landing Site Workshop

Support and Expectations

ESA envisages providing support via reimbursement of travel costs for up to 10 successful recipients with a maximum limit of 2500 euros per person.

Recipients are expected to participate fully in the workshop to aid the Mars science community in recommending the landing site that offers maximum potential science return, giving particular regard to the science objectives of a future MSR campaign and how the European science community can benefit.

Recipients may be requested to support the landing site selection workshop by undertaking specific analysis or other study/support activities.

Eligibility

Applicants must be working in ESA's member states and should be established, active reserchers in Mars or planetary sample science.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to provide a CV and cover letter (in PDF) that should detail:

  • How their area of research could contribute to and benefit from the science from a potential Mars Sample Return campaign;
  • Any previous experience in landing site selection activities for other Mars missions;
  • Any specific knowledge of the candidate landing sites under consideration for Mars 2020: NE Syrtis, Jezero Crater, and Columbia Hills.

Applications will be assessed based on scientific relevance, the candidate’s experience and their potential input to the workshop.

To apply, please email the required documents before the deadline to:  m2020-lsw4-travel@cosmos.esa.int

Deadline

The deadline to receive applications is Tuesday 7 August 23:59 CET. Successful recipients will be notified by 10 August.