PSI Personnel
Project Description
The duties for Vaniman, Chipera, and Craig in the MSL third extended mission are listed and described briefly below:
1. Roles and Responsibilities for Tactical Operations
Tactical operation as Payload Uplink/Downlink Lead (PUDL): Craig
In tactical operations CheMin has combined both payload downlink lead (PDL) and payload uplink lead (PUL) responsibilities into the single role of payload uplink/downlink lead (PUDL). Dr. Craig has been been certified in the PUDL role. Prior to partial retirement, Vaniman had also participated tactically as PUDL and he will remain available to provide backup in this role if needed.
Participation in MSL Geology/Mineralogy (GeoMin) Science Theme Group: Craig and Vaniman
Drs. Craig and Vaniman will participate in the geology/mineralogy (GeoMin) science theme group as representatives for tactical operation of the CheMin instrument. Participation will include downlink data assessment in particular as it relates to CheMin operations and site selection for drill or scoop samples that will be analyzed by CheMin.
2. Roles and Responsibilities for Strategic Operations:
Biannual MSL science team meetings: Vaniman and Craig
Biannual science team meetings will be held at mutually convenient locations during the mission. All team members are encouraged to attend. Vaniman and Craig will attend and participate in these meetings as much as possible.
Weekly CheMin team telecons and CheMin team meetings: Vaniman, Chipera, Craig
Vaniman, Chipera and Craig will continue to attend weekly and special-topic telecons to keep the CheMin team informed of upcoming activity, track other meetings, assess operational issues, track publications, and discuss CheMin science results.
3. Data Validation and Archiving: Vaniman
Dr. Vaniman (LANL) and CheMin team member Mike Wilson (NASA ARC) will continue to be the points of contact and take the lead roles for CheMin Data Validation and Archiving activities. CheMin PI Tom Bristow, CheMin Deputy PI Liz Rampe, and CheMin Co-Is Dick Morris (NASA JSC) and Joy Crisp (JPL) will assist in validating and archiving data.
As specified in the MSL Rules of the Road, the CheMin Science Team will be responsible for delivering validated MSL data products (Level 0 and 1 data, associated ancillary information, and calibration data and information) to the PDS within a timeframe of six months or less after receipt on Earth. Releases will require the review and approval by the CheMin PI, the Deputy PI (or a CheMin Science Team member designated to operate on their behalf), in consultation with the MSL Project Scientist.
4. Publication: Vaniman, Chipera, Craig
Publication of science results is a critical part of the MSL mission. Vaniman will work with other MSL science team members and with the MSL Project Scientist, to insure that science results from CheMin are published in a timely manner. Lead authorship will be assumed by Vaniman as appropriate, but lead authorship by younger scientists on the team will be encouraged. Both Chipera and Craig have been active participants in CheMin publication and will continue to participate. Interaction with other scientists on the MSL mission will be maintained to provide integrated assessment of science results. Papers that assess data from more than one instrument will be encouraged. Publication costs of $2,000 per year are requested in this proposal.