The Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), jointly sponsored by the

Lunar and Planetary Institute The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is a scientific research institute dedicated to study of the Solar System, its formation, evolution, and current state. The Institute is part of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and is sup ...

(LPI) and

NASA Johnson Space Center The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is NASA's center for human spaceflight (originally named the Manned Spacecraft Center), where human spaceflight training, research, and flight control are conducted. It was renamed in honor of the late ...

(JSC), brings together international specialists in

petrology Petrology () is the branch of geology that studies rocks and the conditions under which they form. Petrology has three subdivisions: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology. Igneous and metamorphic petrology are commonly taught together ...

geochemistry Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing th ...

geophysics Geophysics () is a subject of natural science concerned with the physical processes and physical properties of the Earth and its surrounding space environment, and the use of quantitative methods for their analysis. The term ''geophysics'' so ...

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other Astronomical object, astronomical objects, the features or rock (geology), rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology ...

, and

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, g ...

to present the latest results of research in

planetary science Planetary science (or more rarely, planetology) is the scientific study of planets (including Earth), celestial bodies (such as moons, asteroids, comets) and planetary systems (in particular those of the Solar System) and the processes of their ...

. Since its beginning in 1970, the LPSC has been a significant focal point for planetary science research, with more than 2000 planetary scientists and students attending from all over the world.

History

In a speech delivered at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) in Houston, Texas in March 1968, President

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...

announced the formation of the Lunar Science Institute (LSI). The creation of the LSI was the culmination of meetings and events involving the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding ...

, the

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Nat ...

Universities Research Association The Universities Research Association is a non-profit association of more than 90 research universities, primarily but not exclusively in the United States. It has members also in Japan, Italy, and in the United Kingdon. It was founded in 1965 a ...

, and several major universities. Initially operated by the National Academy of Sciences, the

Universities Space Research Association The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) was incorporated on March 12, 1969, in Washington, D.C. as a private, nonprofit corporation under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Institutional membership in the asso ...

took over the management of the Lunar Science Institute on December 11, 1969. A program of visiting university-based scientists was established, the first symposium was organized, and the first lecture of the LSI seminar series was presented. The first science conference, known as the

Apollo 11 Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module ''Eagle'' on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, ...

Lunar Science Conference, was held in Houston from January 5–8, 1970. During the early days of the Apollo Program, meetings focused on the study of the lunar samples. In 1978, the name of the conference was changed from the Lunar Science Conference to the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference to reflect the expanded scope of research that included planetary science. After five decades, this conference continues to draw planetary scientists and researchers from around the world. The conference has been held every year since 1970 except for 2020. The first three were held in January, and from 1973 on have been held in March. The most recent in-person conference was held March 18–22, 2019, in

The Woodlands, Texas The Woodlands is a special-purpose district and census-designated place (CDP) in the U.S. state of Texas in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area. The Woodlands is primarily located in Montgomery County, with p ...

, 31 miles north of

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. In 2020, the conference was cancelled due to concerns about

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quick ...

. In 2021, the conference was held virtually March 15-19 due to concerns about COVID-19. In 2022, the conference was held as a hybrid meeting (both in person and virtual) March 7-11 due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19.

LPSC today

The schedule for the five-day conference consists of parallel sessions of contributed presentations that emphasize planetary processes and those related to planetary bodies. Contributed abstracts are peer-reviewed, and selections for presentation are based on the overall relevance of the subject matter to the conference and the quality of the science. The conference features five full days of oral and poster sessions covering a variety of topics in planetary science research. A number of special sessions and events are also scheduled. Every year special sessions are held covering a variety of topics, including recent events in planetary science and current planetary missions and their results. Special sessions are scheduled throughout the week of the conference and throughout the event venue. Highlighted events of the conference include a welcome event, a briefing from the Planetary Sciences Division of NASA's

Science Mission Directorate The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engages the United States’ science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NA ...

, plenary sessions, education/public outreach presentations, peripheral team meetings and workshops, and networking opportunities. Special events for

women in science The presence of women in science spans the earliest times of the history of science wherein they have made significant contributions. Historians with an interest in gender and science have researched the scientific endeavors and accomplishments ...

and students are also featured. Each year, a lecture series is held at the conference, in honor of

Harold Masursky Harold (Hal) Masursky (December 23, 1922* – August 24, 1990) was an American astrogeologist. After leaving Yale University without defending his dissertation, he started his career in the early 1950s as a field geologist in Wyoming and Colo ...

(1922-1990), an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

astrogeologist. The series began in 1992. Every ten years a

Planetary Science Decadal Survey The Planetary Science Decadal Survey is a publication of the United States National Research Council produced for NASA and other United States Government Agencies such as the National Science Foundation.National Academy of Sciences, National Acade ...

Briefing is held as part of the conference. This decadal survey "shall broadly canvas the field of space- and ground-based planetary science to determine the current state of knowledge and then identify the most important scientific questions expected to face the community...In addition, the survey and report shall address relevant programmatic and implementation issues of interest to NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF)."Planetary Science Decadal Survey: 2013-2022 Statement of Task (Revised)

References

External links

*
Lunar and Planetary Institute
on

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