VEXAG Charter/Focus Groups

The Venus Exploration Analysis Group is NASA's community-based forum designed to provide scientific input and technology development plans for planning and prioritizing the exploration of Venus over the next several decades, including a Venus surface sample return. VEXAG is chartered by NASA's Solar System Exploration Division and reports its findings to NASA. Open to all interested scientists, VEXAG regularly evaluates Venus exploration goals, scientific objectives, investigations and critical measurement requirements, including especially recommendations in the NRC Decadal Survey and the Solar System Exploration Strategic Roadmap.

In addition to interested members of the scientific community, each focus group will include technology experts, NASA representatives, international partner representatives, EPO experts, and the chair. The current focus groups are listed below. Other focus groups may be added, as needed.

VEXAG Committee

Chair
Lori Glaze
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Members-at-Large
Bob Grimm, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder Colorado
David Crisp, JPL, Pasadena, California

Focus Groups

Goals and Exploration Sites Focus Group – Robert Herrick, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Lead

Technology Development and Laboratory Measurements Focus Group – Pat Beauchamp, JPL, Lead

Early-Career Scholars Outreach Focus Group   – Stephanie Johnston, University of Maryland, Lead

Topical Analysis Groups

Venus Exploration Roadmap Topical Analysis Group – Ellen Stofan, Proxemy, Inc. Lead

Competed Missions and ROSES Topical Analysis Group – Gordon Chin, Goddard Space Flight Center, Lead

International Collaborations Topical Analysis Group – Sanjay Limaye, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, Lead

Past VEXAG Co-Chairs (in chronological order)

Janet Luhmann
University of California, Berkeley, California

Sushil Atreya
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ellen Stofan
Proxemy, Inc.

Suzanne Smrekar
JPL, Pasadena, California

Sanjay Limaye
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Steve Mackwell served as Focus Group Lead for Planetary Formation and Evolution since VEXAG was formed in 2005 until spring 2009. Janet Luhmann, and Sushil Atreya, served as VEXAG Co-Chairs since VEXAG was formed in 2005 until November 2009.  Ellen Stofan served as VEXAG Chair from November 2007 until spring 2009.

NASA and LPI contacts:

Dr. Adriana Ocampo, NASA Headquarters
Dr. Thomas W. Thompson, NASA/JPL
Dr. Steve Mackwell, LPI

Last updated
March 4, 2013