About Us
The Venus Exploration Analysis Group is NASA's community-based forum formed 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 mission. 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 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.
| Steering Committe Member | Position/Roles | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Noam Izenberg Applied Physics Laboratory |
Chair, SAWs 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, NEXSS | June 2022 - May 2025 |
| Debra Buczkowski Applied Physics Laboratory |
Deputy Chair, SAWs 1, 2, 14 | 1/1/22–12/31/24 |
| Natasha Johnson Goddard Space Flight Center |
At Large Member, SAWs 9, 10, Listserve | July 2020–June 2023 |
| Stephen Kane UC Riverside |
At Large Member | July 2020–June 2023 |
| Molly McCanta University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
At Large Member, SAW 11 | January 2021–December 2023 |
| Jason Rabinovitch Stevens Institute of Technology |
At Large Member, SAW 2, 12 | January 2021–December 2023 |
| Sara Port NASA Glenn Research Center |
At Large Member, SAW 5, 9. OVEN Liaison | July 2021–June 2024 |
| Siddharth Krishnamoorthy JPL |
At Large Member, SAW 2, 12 | July 2021–June 2024 |
| Chuanfei Dong Boston University |
At Large Member, SAW 4 | 1/1/22–12/31/24 |
| Eric Grosfils Pomona College |
At Large Member, SAW 10, 14 | 7/1/22–6/30/25 |
| Erika Kohler Goddard Space Flight Center |
At Large Member, SAW 3, 7 | 7/1/22–6/30/25 |
| Alexander Akins Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
At Large Member | January 2023 - December 2025 |
| Tracy Gregg University of Buffalo |
At Large Member | January 2023 - December 2025 |
| Michael Way Goddard Institute of Space Studies |
At Large Member | January 2023 - December 2025 |
| Anna Gulcher Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
At Large Member | July 2023 - June 2026 |
| Daniel Nunes Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
At Large Member | July 2023 - June 2026 |
| Megan Ansdell NASA HQ Liaison |
Ex officio | |
| Nicholas Lang NASA HQ Liaison |
Ex officio |
VEXAG Study/Science Analysis Workgroups (SAWs)
Descriptions and memberships have been updated for the start of 2023
* Lead Member
1: VEXAG Organization Documentation
GOAL:
Codify and simplify regular VEXAG procedures and calendar events to help future iterations of the VEXAG steering committee draw on past experience to plan recurring activities.
PRODUCTS:
A single document with calendars, procedures and recommendations to be updated with experience
MEMBERS:
Noam Izenberg*, Dabra Bczkcowski
TIMELINE:
Completion by the VEXAG 2020 meeting, status updates at each SC meeting
2: VEXAG 2023 Meeting Org.
GOAL:
Prepare for 2023 VEXAG
PRODUCTS:
The VEXAG 2023 meeting
MEMBERS:
Noam Izenberg*, Dabra Bczkcowski, Siddharth Krishnamoorthy, Jason Rabinovich
TIMELINE:
Standing up in early 2023
3: “Off Season” Meeting Org.
GOAL:
Prepare for 2023 VEXAG off season meeting
PRODUCTS:
The VEXAG off season meeting
MEMBERS:
Erika Kohler*, + TBD
TIMELINE:
Standing up in early 2023
4: Theme change: Venus Exploration Strategy
GOAL:
Develop Venus Exploration Strategy for the next decade with the community for NASA
PRODUCTS:
Revised or new VEGASO document. Recommendation (or not) for new Landing site workshop
MEMBERS:
Paul Byrne*, Chuanfei Dong, Alison Santos, Emilie Royer, Christopher Fowler, Reginal Moreno, Candace Paybe, Gary Hunter
TIMELINE:
Determination by summer 2020, update by VEXAG 2020, status reports at each SC meeting
5: Venus Science Nuggets
GOAL:
Identify, pursue, and aid creation of Venus Science Nuggets for NASA and VEXAG
PRODUCTS:
1-slide Venus Science Nuggets.
MEMBERS:
Jason Rabinovich, Sara Port, + TBD
TIMELINE:
Ongoing, status reports at each SC meeting
6: Venus Surface Platform Study
GOAL:
Complete study begun in 2018
PRODUCTS:
Workshop study report.
MEMBERS:
Leads Tibor Kremic, Mike Amato
TIMELINE:
By VEXAG 2020 meeting. Reports at each SC meeting
7: Theme change: Venus Experimental Facilities
GOAL:
Maintain knowledge base of Venus experimental facilities, promote use and growth of facilities, and help scientists find the experimental resources they need
PRODUCTS:
Public Database
MEMBERS:
Alison Santos, Jeff Balcerski, Darby Dyar Erika Kohler
TIMELINE:
TBD
8: RETIRED: - Outreach SAW function is now covered by LPI Venus outreach program. VEXAG will now have an Officer liaison to this group.
9: Venus Social Media
GOAL:
Ongoing evaluation of increasing Venus awareness and advocacy in the planetary community and public at large.
PRODUCTS:
TBD
MEMBERS:
Elise Merchack*, Sara Port, Noam Izenberg, Indujaa Ganesh, Natasha Johnson
TIMELINE:
TBD
10: VEXAG website
GOAL:
Review contents of LPI’s VEXAG web site and update as appropriate
PRODUCTS:
Updated LPI VEXAG Web Site by mid-2021. Update current VEXAG Web-Site to have the look and feel of OPAG’s, SBAG’s Mercury Exploration Assessment Group (MExAG)
MEMBERS:
Natasha Johnson* Noam Izenberg, Michael Beaudry, Eric Grosfils
TIMELINE:
Tag-Up telecons every 2 weeks starting in mid-January 2021
11: IDEA: Inclusion Diversity Equity Access
GOAL:
Support, create, promote IDEA goals and initiatives within VEXAG and the Venus community at large. Represent VEXAG in IDEA inter-AG workgroup
PRODUCTS:
Code of conduct, SC membership search/review policy.
MEMBERS:
Molly McCanta, Joshua Knicely, +TBD
TIMELINE:
Periodic reports at SC meetings, product documents by VEXAG 2021
12: Aerial platforms
GOAL:
TBD
PRODUCTS:
TBD
MEMBERS:
Siddharth Krishnamoorthy*, Joe O’Rourke, Paul Byrne, Bruce Cogan, Jacob Israelovitz, Tibor Kremic
TIMELINE:
TBD
13: RETIRED - Early Career Outreach is now the purview of the Opportunities for Venus Early Career Networking (OVEN) group. VEXAG will have an Early Career Officer Liaison to this group
14: Venus Mapping
GOAL:
Under development. Promote and enable Venus mapping efforts in NASA research and analysis.
PRODUCTS:
TBD
MEMBERS:
Debra Buczkowski, Eric Grosfils, +TBD
TIMELINE:
Standing up in 2023
15: Surface Platforms
GOAL:
Under development. Promote surface platform technology solutions, implementations, incorporations into research and missions. Promote ties between science and industry/technical research.
PRODUCTS:
TBD
MEMBERS:
Alison Santos, +TBD
TIMELINE:
Standing up in 2023
16: Mentoring
GOAL:
Connect underserved and/or early Venus researchers at institutions without strong Venus programs with appropriate mentors across the discipline, to grow an interconnected Venus community.
PRODUCTS:
TBD
MEMBERS:
Noam Izenberg, +TBD
TIMELINE:
Standing up in 2023
Past VEXAG Co-Chairs (in chronological order)
Janet Luhmann
University of California, Berkeley, California
Sushil Atreya
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ellen Stofan
John and Adrienne Mars Director of the National Air and Space Museum
Suzanne Smrekar
JPL, Pasadena, California
Sanjay Limaye
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Lori Glaze
Director of NASA's Science Mission Directorate's Planetary Science Division
Bob Grimm
Southwest Research Institute
Darby Dyar
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachussetts
NASA and LPI contacts:
Dr. Megan Ansdell, NASA Executive Officer for VEXAG
Andrew Shaner, LPI
Venus Organizational Documents
IDEA Policy and Code of Conduct
Steering Committee Selection and Rotation
SAW Organization and Guidelines
VEXAG honors the memory of Thomas (Tommy) Thompson, longtime VEXAG scribe who was involved in the formation of VEXAG in 2005 and was closely involved with it for the next 16 years. We are grateful for both his scientific and programmatic contributions to the exploration of Venus.
Terms of Reference
Details about VEXAG, including its purpose, activities, organization, and processes can be found in the VEXAG Terms of Reference.