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.
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PAC Charter
The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee.
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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.
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Analysis Groups
The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee.
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Materials from the Predecessor Subcommittee
The Planetary Science Advisory Committee is a new FACA committee of NASA, replacing the NAC SC Planetary Science Subcommittee,
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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
June 21-23, 2023
February 28-March 1, 2023
December 5-6, 2022
June 21-23, 2022
February 15, 2022
November 15-16, 2021
Nov. 15-16, 2021
- Federal Register Notice: Nov. 15-16, 2021
- Agenda: Nov. 15-16, 2021
- Minutes: Nov. 15-16, 2021
- Findings: Nov. 15-16, 2021
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Status Report - L. Glaze
- Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office (ESSIO) - B. Bailey, J. Kearns
- Mars Exploration Status Highlights - E. Ianson
- Planetary Science Division R&A Status Report - S. Rinehart
- Dual-Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) Update - D.Santiago-Materese
- Planetary Defense Coordination Office - L. Johnson
- Astrobiology Update - M. Voytek
- Mars Exploration Program Analysis (MEPAG) Update – R. Yingst
- Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Update – Darby Dyar
- Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) - B. Cohen
- Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) - B. Buratti
- Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Report - M. Meyer
- Outer Planet Assessment Group (OPAG) Update - L. Spilker
- Mercury Exploration Analysis Group (MExAG) - S. Hauck
- Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team (MAPSIT) - J. Stopar
- Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Update - L. Fagan
- IDEA - L. Moore, N. Zellner
- Planetary Science Technology Update - C. Mercer
- Planetary Major Equipment and Facilities - A.Burton
June 14, 2021
- Federal Register Notice: June 14, 2021
- Agenda: June 14, 2021
- Minutes: June 14, 2021
- Discussion Points: June 14, 2021
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Status Report - L. Glaze
- R&A Update - S. Rinehart
- Mars Exploration Program/Mars Sample Return Update - M. Meyer, J. Gramling
- SMD Information Policy - S. Crawford
- Planetary Defense Update - L. Johnson, K. Fast
- Planetary Data Ecosystem Independent Review Board - B. McCauley Rench, M. McGrath
- NASA Demographics Reporting - L. Barbier
- Cross-AG IDEA Working Group - M. Milazzo, M. McAdam
- AG Discussions
March 1-2, 2021
- Federal Register Notice: March 1-2, 2021
- Agenda: March 1-2, 2021
- Minutes: March 1-2, 2021
- Findings: March 1-2, 2021
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Update - L. Glaze
- Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office Update - J. Kearns
- Astrobiology Update - M. Voytek
- Planetary Defense Coordination Update - K. Fast, L. Johnson
- Mars Exploration Program/Mars Sample Return Update - E. Ianson, J. Gramling, M. Meyer
- Decadal Survey Update - D. Smith
- R&A Update - S. Rinehart
- Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessbility Report - M. Thompson
- AG Updates
Nov. 30, 2020 (Virtual Meeting)
- Federal Register Notice: Nov. 30, 2020
- Agenda: Nov. 30, 2020
- Minutes: Nov. 30, 2020
- Findings: Nov. 30, 2020
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Status Report - L. Glaze
- Mars Exploration Program (MEP) - E. Ianson
- Mars Sample Return Update - J. Gramling
- Astrobiology Update - M. Voytek
- PSD R&A Update - S. Rinehart
- ISFM Overview - M. New, S. Rinehart
- ISFM Overview 2 - S. Rinehart
- ARC ISFM Update - J. Hollingsworth
- GSFC ISFM Update - S. Getty
- JSC ISFM Update - J. Alred
- PDCO Update - L. Johnson
- AG Updates - PAC/AG Reps
Aug. 17-18, 2020 (Virtual Meeting)
- Federal Register Notice: Aug. 17-18, 2020
- Agenda: Aug. 17-18, 2020
- Minutes: Aug. 17-18, 2020
- Findings: Aug. 17-18, 2020
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Status Report - L. Glaze
- Planetary Science Division R&A Status Report - S. Rinehart
- Diversity, Inclusion and Equity - M. Thompson
- Planetary Decadal Updated - D. Smith
- Mars Program Status Update - J. Watzin
- Mars Science - M. Meyer
- Mars Sample Return - J. Gramling
- Lunar Program (ESSIO) - B. Bailey
- VIPER Mission Update - T. Colaprete
- FY20 GPRAMA Science Performance Goals
- ExoPAG Updates - M. Meyer
- LEAG Update - S. Lawrence
- MAPSIT: Making Data Accessible and Usable - J. Radebaugh
- SBAG - B. Buratti
- MExAG - S. Hauck
- OPAG - J. Moore
- VEXAG - D. Dyar
- MEPAG - A. Yingst
March 9-11, 2020
- Federal Register Notice: March 9-11, 2020
- Agenda: March 9-10, 2020
- Minutes: March 9-10, 2020
- Findings: March 9-10, 2020
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Status Report - L. Glaze
- Planetary Research Division - S. Rinehart
- Planetary Protection - B. McCauley Renh
- Mars Exploration Program (MEP) - M. Meyer, J Watzin
- Lunar Program - S. Clarke
- Planetary Defense Coordination Office - L. Johnson
- Planetary Data System Status and Future Plans - L. Prockter, T. McClanahan
- Planetary Data Systems (PDS) - B. McCauley Rench
- Exoplanets in our Backyard - N. Izenberg
- Planetary Science with Astrophysical Assets - J. Bauer
- Solar System Science with JWST - H. Hammel
- Mercury Exploration Analysis Group (MExAG) - C. Ernst
- Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Steering Committee - D. Dyar
- Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) - B. Buratti
- Outer Planet Assessment Group (OPAG) Update - J. Moore
- Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) Report - A. Yingst
- Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team (MAPSIT): Making Data Accessible and Usable - J. Radebaugh
- Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Update - S. Lawrence
- Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials - K. McKeegan
Dec. 6, 2019
- Federal Register Notice: Dec. 6, 2019
- Agenda: Dec. 6, 2019
- Meeting Minutes: Dec. 6, 2019
- Recommendation: Dec. 6, 2019
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Update – Lori Glaze
- Research & Analysis - Stephen Rinehart
- Planetary Mission Senior Review - William Knopf
- EXPLORE SCIENCE: Research Program Innovations - Michael H. New
- Mars Exploration Program Analysis (MEPAG) Update – R. Aileen Yingst
- Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTEM) Update - Kevin D. McKeegan
- Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Update - Samuel Lawrence
- Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team Update – Jani Radebaugh
- Outer Planet Assessment Group (OPAG) Update - Jeff Moore
- Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Update – Darby Dyar
- Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) Update - Bonnie J. Buratti
Sept. 23-24, 2019
- Meeting Minutes: Sept. 23-24, 2019
- Federal Register Notice: Sept. 23-24, 2019
- Findings: Sept. 23-24, 2019
- Recommendation: Sept. 23-24, 2019
- Revised Agenda: Sept. 23-24, 2019
- Presentations
- SMD Welcome and Updates - Thomas Zurbuchen
- Planetary Science Division Status Report - Lori Glaze
- PSD Research & Analysis - Stephen Rinehart
- Lunar Discovery & Exploration Program Status - Steve Clark, Sarah Noble
- PSD Senior Review - Ralph McNutt
- Mars Exploration Program (MEP) Update - Jim Watzin
- Mercury Science & Exploration Update - Shoshana Weider
- Government Performance and Results Act/Modernization Act (GPRAMA) Performance Evaluation
- Venus Exploration (VEXAG) Analysis Group - Darby Dyar
- Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) - Michael DiSanti
- Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Update - Linda Spilker
- Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) Report - Aileen Yingst
- Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team (MAPSIT) - Justin Hagerty
- Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) - Samuel Lawrence
- Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTEM) - Kevin McKeegan
Sept. 26, 2018
July 2, 2018
Feb. 21-23, 2018
- Meeting Minutes: Feb. 21-23, 2018
- Findings: Feb. 21-23, 2018
- Federal Register Notice: Feb. 21-23, 2018
- Agenda: Feb. 21-23, 2018
- Presentations
- Planetary Science Division Status Report - Jim Green
- Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program - Sarah Noble
- Planetary Science R&A Update - Jonathan Rall
- Review of NASA's Planetary Science Division's Restructured Research and Analysis Programs - Stephen Mackwell
- R&A Charge to SMD Advisory Committees - Dr. Michael New
- Mars Exploration Program Update - Jim Watzin, Michael Meyer
- Joint Workshop on Induced Special Regions - Michael Meyer
- Planetary Data System Status and Future Plans - Tom Morgan, Maria Banks
- The Deep Space Network - Joseph Lazio
- The Nexus for Exoplanet System Science - Dr. Mary Voytek
- Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) - Sarah Noble
- Ceres Pre-Decadal Science Definition Team - Michael Kelley
- Planetary Defense Coordination Office - Lindley Johnson
- Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials - Kevin McKeegan
- LEAG Report to the Planetary Science Advisory Committee - Clive Neal, Sam Lawrence
- The Importance and Challenge of Building a Planetary Spatial Data Infrastructure - Jani Radebaugh
- Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) Update - Jeffrey Johnson
- Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Update - Alfred McEwen
- Report from the Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) - Tim Swindle
- Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Update - Robert Grimm, Martha Gilmore