1st Information Circular for MEPAG Meeting 38: April 15-17, 2020

Members of the Mars community,

I cordially invite you to participate in the next face-to-face Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) meeting scheduled for Wednesday-Friday, April 15-17, 2020 (#38). This meeting will be held at the Residence Inn Arlington Capital View (Arlington, VA – hotel information is included in the attachment).

The main foci of this MEPAG meeting are preparation for the next Planetary Science Decadal Survey and the current state of Mars exploration plans within NASA and other space agencies. Agenda items are expected to include updates about:

  • Recent MEPAG activities, including Decadal Survey preparations
  • The Mars Exploration Program, including plans for Mars Sample Return
  • Ongoing and planned Mars missions, domestic and international
  • Human Exploration and Commercial Space future access to Mars
  • The status of the ongoing Mars Architecture Strategy Working Group

In addition to these reports, the agenda will include time for community interests and questions to be presented and discussed. In particular, time is allocated for

  • The presentation of community-generated white paper topics (potentially via lightning talks and/or posters)
  • A community forum period for discussion of community concerns

More information about these agenda items, including instructions on how to request agenda time, will be provided in the 2nd Information Circular. A draft meeting agenda will also be included in that Circular.

The 2nd Information Circular will be sent out via announcement and posted to the MEPAG meeting website (https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/meetings.cfm) in advance of the next MEPAG virtual meeting, which will be held in the latter half of February, 2020 (VM #8). The exact date and agenda for this VM are still being determined, and will be posted as information becomes available. Additionally, we have requested peripheral meeting space at the upcoming LPSC for informal MEPAG community discussion following announcements about the Decadal Survey committee and schedule; more details on this will also be announced and posted after LPI scheduling.

Both of the official MEPAG meetings and the LPSC peripheral meeting are open to all members of the Mars science community including our international colleagues. I look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Dr. R. Aileen Yingst
MEPAG Chair