The Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC) supports the advisory needs of the Planetary Science Division (PSD), the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and other mission directorates as required, and the NASA Administrator.

The scope of the PAC includes all aspects of planetary science, scientific exploration of the Moon and Mars, the robotic exploration of the solar system, astrobiology, exoplanet research, space- and ground-based research, technology development, planning, and training required to support these science areas.

In addition to scientific research, the scope encompasses considerations of the development of near-term enabling technologies, systems, and computing and information management capabilities, as well as developments with the potential to provide long-term improvements in future operational systems.

Responsibility for biological planetary protection is outside the purview of the PAC.

PAC Members

Serina Diniega, Chair – Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Ryan Watkins, Executive Secretary – NASA Headquarters
Brent Barbee – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Shannon Curry - University of California, Berkeley
Lisa Danielson - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Jennifer Glass – Georgia Institute of Technology
John Grant – Smithsonian Institution
Hope Ishii – University of Hawaii
Kandis Lea Jessup – Southwest Research Institute
Walter Kiefer – Lunar and Planetary Institute
D’Arcy Meyer-Dombard – University of Illinois at Chicago
Conor Nixon – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Tyler Robinson – Northern Arizona University
Joseph Westlake – Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

PAC 101: Welcome to the PAC

The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee.

Storm clouds in white and pale red encircle Venus.

Modern image processing brought out the details of Venus's storm clouds, as seen from the Mariner 10 spacecraft.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

PAC Charter

The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee.

Three-quarters of planet Jupiter is visible, with alternating swirling bands of brown and white present.

NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured this image of Jupiter's southern hemisphere on Feb. 17, 2020, during a close approach to the planet.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Image processing by Kevin M. Gill, © CC BY

PAC-Designated Federal Officer and Appointments

The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee.

Saturn and its rings. The planet appears as though it is tilted backward, appearing to reveal the underside of its rings. Overall Saturn is yellow with bands of red, yellowish-brown, light orange, pink, and blue.

As NASA's Cassini spacecraft hurtled its way toward a July 1, 2004 rendezvous with Saturn, the Hubble Space Telescope snapped breathtaking views of the solar system's most photogenic planet. This image, taken on March 22, 2004, is so sharp that many individual ringlets are visible in Saturn's ring plane.

NASA, ESA and E. Karkoschka (University of Arizona)

Analysis Groups

The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee.

Neptune is a bright, deep blue in this image.

Voyager 2's captured this image of Neptune, showing the planet's Great Dark Spot and companion bright smudge.

NASA/JPL

Materials from the Predecessor Subcommittee

The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee,

This image from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft uses spectral data to highlight various minerals, features and properties on Mercury.

NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

PAC Meeting Documents

Scroll through to see presentations and other supporting documents from PAC meetings.

Please direct questions regarding the Planetary Science Advisory Committee to Ryan Watkins, Executive Secretary.

November 13-14, 2023

Federal Register Notice

November 13-14, 2023

Planetary Science Advisory Committee

PAC Members

PAC 101: Welcome to the PAC

PAC Charter

PAC-Designated Federal Officer and Appointments

Analysis Groups

Materials from the Predecessor Subcommittee

PAC Meeting Documents

November 13-14, 2023

Federal Register Notice

Agenda

Planetary Science Division (PSD) Update

SRB Process Review

Mars Exploration Program Update

Mars Sample Return Independent Review Response Planning and Updates

Mental Health in the Planetary Science Community

Astrobiology Update

Research Coordination Network Update (LIFE)

Research Coordination Network Update (NExSS)

PSD GPRAMA Evaluation (2023)

Deep Space Network (DSN) Update

Planetary Science Division (PSD) R&A Update

Planetary Data Ecosystem Update

AG Update: LEAG

AG Update: MAPSIT

AG Update: VEXAG

AG Update: MEPAG

AG Update: MExAG

AG Update: OPAG

AG Update: SBAG

AG Update: EDIA CAWG

AG Update: OWWG

AG Update: ExMAG

AG Update: ExoPAG

ESSIO/Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program (LDEP)

Integrated Lunar Science Strategy

June 21-23, 2023

Federal Register Notice

Agenda

Findings

Meeting Minutes

Planetary Science Division (PSD) Update

ESSIO/Lunar Science Update

IRTF Independent Review

R&A Update

Mars Sample Return Update

SSERVI Update

Mars Exploration Program (MEP) Update

Astrobiology Update

RCN Update

IDEA Cross-AG Working Group (CAWG)

Assessment/Analysis Group (AG) Updates

Inclusion Plans in Research Proposals

PDCO Update

Psyche IRB Response Summary

February 28-March 1, 2023

Federal Register Notice

Agenda

Findings

Meeting Minutes

Planetary Science Division (PSD) Update

Astrobiology Update

Astrobiology Research Coordination Network (RCN) Reports

Mars Exploration Program (MEP) Update

Mars Sample Return Update

ESA ExoMars Update

Research & Analysis (R&A) Update

Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) Update

Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program Update

Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Update

Assessment/Analysis Group (AG) Updates

SMD Mission/Standing Review Board (SRB) Processes

December 5-6, 2022

Federal Register Notice

Agenda

Findings

Meeting Minutes

Planetary Science Division (PSD) Update

Psyche Independent Review Board (IRB)

Mars Exploration Program (MEP)/Mars Sample Return (MSR) Updates