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, NEXSS, General contact | June 2022 – May 2025 |
| Debra Buczkowski Applied Physics Laboratory |
Deputy Chair, Mapping, General contact | June 2022 – May 2025 |
| Chuanfei Dong Boston University |
At Large Member, Exploration Strategy | January 2022 – December 2024 |
| Eric Grosfils Pomona College |
At Large Member, Website, Mentoring | July 2022 – June 2025 |
| Erika Kohler Goddard Space Flight Center |
At Large Member, Exoplanets in our Backyard, Experimental Facilities | July 2022 – June 2025 |
| Alexander Akins Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
At Large Member, Data Resources | January 2023 – December 2025 |
| Tracy Gregg University of Buffalo |
At Large Member, Strategic Documents, Mentoring | January 2023 – December 2025 |
| Michael Way Goddard Institute of Space Studies |
At Large Member | January 2023 – December 2025 |
| Anna Gulcher Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
At Large Member, Data Resources, Strategic Documents | July 2023 – June 2026 |
| Daniel Nunes Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
At Large Member | July 2023 – June 2026 |
| Kelsey Crane Mississippi State University |
At Large Member, IDEA, Mentoring | January 2024 – December 2026 |
| Jacob Izraelevitz Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
At Large Member, IDEA, Technology | January 2024 – December 2026 |
| Pierro D’Incecco National Institute for Astrophysics, Italy |
At Large Member, International community | January 2024 – December 2026 |
| Robbie Herrick University of Alaska, Fairbanks |
At Large Member, Strategic Documents, Surface Platforms | January 2024 – December 2026 |
| Gael Cascioli U. Maryland, Baltimore County |
At Large Member | July 2024 – June 2027 |
| Indujaa Ganesh U. Alaska Fairbanks |
At Large Member | July 2024 – June 2027 |
| Brad Thomson U. Tennessee, Knoxville |
At Large Member | July 2024 – June 2027 |
| Matthew Weller LPI |
At Large Member | July 2024 – June 2027 |
| Darby Dyar Mt. Holyoke College |
Chair Emeritus | |
| 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:
Reviewed Organization Document, revised as needed
MEMBERS:
Noam Izenberg*, Debra Buczkowski, Tracy Gregg, Eric Grosfils
TIMELINE:
Review and necessary revision over spring/summer. Annual revisions , if any, presented at VEXAG meeting.
2: VEXAG 2024 Meeting Org.
GOAL:
Prepare for 2024 VEXAG
PRODUCTS:
The VEXAG 2024 meeting.
MEMBERS:
Noam Izenberg*, Debra Buczkowski, Scott King, Nathan McGregor
TIMELINE:
Standing up in early 2024 Targeting November 16-20 timeframe, Louisville, KY
3: “Off Season” Meeting Org.
GOAL:
Prepare for VEXAG off season and other meetings
PRODUCTS:
The VEXAG off season meetings
2024: Exoplanets in our Backyard 3
2025: ?Venus technology workshop?
MEMBERS:
Erika Kohler*, Scott King, external partners
TIMELINE:
Preparation throughout 2024, Meeting November 13-15, Louisville KY
4: 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, Regina Moreno, Candace Payne, Gary Hunter, Anna Gulcher
TIMELINE:
Completion and presentation to community at LPSC (March) 2024
5: Venus Science Nuggets
GOAL:
Identify, pursue, and aid creation of Venus Science Nuggets for NASA and VEXAG
PRODUCTS:
1-slide Venus Science Nuggets for NASA and VEXAG
MEMBERS:
Sara Port*, Scott King, Ri Cao
TIMELINE:
Ongoing, status reports at each SC meeting
6: (Retired)
7: 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:
Laboratory facility paper/white paper, Public Database
MEMBERS:
Alison Santos*, Jeff Balcerski, Darby Dyar, Erika Kohler, Justin Filliberto, Molly McCanta, Jessica Weber
TIMELINE:
Paper in summer 2024, other activities TBD
8: (Retired)
9: Venus Social Media
GOAL:
Ongoing evaluation of increasing Venus awareness and advocacy in the planetary community and public at large.
PRODUCTS:
Social Media posts on active platforms (currently Twitter and Instagram), Listserve and PEN announcements, additional internet outreach. Liveblogging of events/meetings.
MEMBERS:
Elise Merchack* (Twitter), Mareli Paredes* (Instagram), Kelsey Crane, Noam Izenberg, Indujaa Ganesh, Debra Buczkowski (Listserve)
TIMELINE:
Ongoing release of posts and information
10: VEXAG website
GOAL:
Review contents of the 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:
Noam Izenberg*, Michael Beaudry (LPI), Eric Grosfils, Sara Port (Nuggets), Anna Gulcher (Data Resources)
TIMELINE:
Tag-Up mails monthly or bimonthly, Website updates as needed, telecons as needed.
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:
Kelsey Crane*, Laura Breitenfeld, Kas Knicely, Nathan McGregor
TIMELINE:
Periodic reports at SC meetings, product document review/revision as needed by VEXAG annual meeting.
12: Aerial platforms
GOAL:
Familiarize Venus community with aerial platforms for exploration of Venus. Connect Earth-based aerial platform technology providers with Venus consumers
PRODUCTS:
Seminars on aerial platform technologies for Venus, Town Hall to connect Earth aerial technologists with Venus customers
MEMBERS:
Siddharth Krishnamoorthy*, Joe O’Rourke, Paul Byrne, Bruce Cogan, Jacob Izraelevitz, Tibor Kremic, Jeff Balcerski
TIMELINE:
Seminars/webinars: semi-annual or (goal) more frequent. Town hall ~annual. Updates at SC meetings and VEXAG annual meeting.
13: (Retired)
14: Venus Mapping
GOAL:
Promote and enable Venus mapping efforts in NASA research and analysis.
PRODUCTS:
TBD
MEMBERS:
Debra Buczkowski*, Eric Grosfils, Trevor Austin, Ri Cao, Nathan McGregor, Margaret Deahn, Tracy Gregg, Kelsey Crane, Brad Thomson, Piero D’Incecco
TIMELINE:
Standing up in 2024
15: Surface Platforms
GOAL:
Promote surface platform technology solutions, implementations, incorporations into research and missions. Promote ties between science and industry/technical research.
PRODUCTS:
TBD
MEMBERS:
Alison Santos*, Jason Rabinovitch, Ri Cao, Jeff Balcerski, Piero D’Incecco
TIMELINE:
Standing up in 2024
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:
Resources for grant writing; List of relevant grants and opportunities, including how to join a panel as a reviewer or executive secretary; Resources for undergraduates, graduate students, post docs, and ECFs (meet folks where they are with the resources they need).
MEMBERS:
Kelsey Crane* Madison Borelli, Scott King, Eric Grosfils, Gael Gascioli, Brad Thomson, Piero D’Incecco, Noam Izenberg
TIMELINE:
First meeting, Jan 2024, regular meetings planned.
17: Strategic Documents
GOAL:
Revise/Update Venus Strategic Documents (Last revised 2019) for relevance after Discovery selection of VERITAS and DAVINCI, and for the OWL Decadal.
PRODUCTS:
Revised versions of the Goals, Objectives, Investigations (GOI) document, the Venus Exploration Roadmap, and the Technology Plan
MEMBERS:
Editors: Noam Izenberg and Debra Buczkowski
GOI (Lead TBD): Alison Santos, Tracy Gregg, Brad Thomson, Gael Cascioli
Tech Plan: Siddharth Krishnamoorthy*, Gary Hunter, Robbie Herrick, Jacob Israelevitz
Roadmap: Robbie Herrick*, Paul Byrne, Anna Gulcher, Kelsey Crane
TIMELINE:
Spring-Fall 2024, Completion by VEXAG 2024 annual meeting.
18: Venus Data Resources
GOAL:
Compile clearinghouse of Venus Data sets and other resources for the community, accessible via the VEXAG webpages
PRODUCTS:
Venus Data Resource webpage(s)
MEMBERS:
Anna Gulcher*, Robbie Herrick, Gael Casioli, Brad Thomson, Alex Akins, Stephen Kane, Rebecca Hahn, Trevor Austin
TIMELINE:
Spring-Fall 2024, Completion by VEXAG 2024 annual meeting.
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.