Planetary Assessment/Analysis Groups
In addition to the Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC), NASA's Planetary Science Division (PSD) receives feedback through Analysis/Assessment Groups (AGs). The AGs are community-organized groups that provide feedback to PSD. They are not authorized by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). AGs organize public meetings and facilitate discussions relevant to their communities. Participation is open to all interested members of the planetary science and exploration community.
| Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group | The Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) is a community-based, interdisciplinary group for discussing and analyzing matters concerning the collection, curation, and analysis of extraterrestrial samples, including planning future sample return missions. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/exmag |
| Lunar Exploration Analysis Group | The Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) supports NASA with analysis of scientific, technical, commercial, and operational issues in support of lunar exploration objectives and their implications for lunar architecture planning and activity prioritization. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/ |
| Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team | The Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team (MAPSIT) is a community-based interdisciplinary forum for the discussion, analysis, and representation of matters concerning the development of planetary geographic information and cartographic products, and aims to ensure that planetary data are usable for any purpose, now and in the future. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/mapsit/ |
| Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group | The Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) provides science input to plan and prioritize Mars exploration activities, and serves as a community-based, interdisciplinary forum for inquiry and analysis in support of Mars exploration objectives. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/mepag/ |
| Mercury Exploration Assessment Group | The Mercury Exploration Assessment Group (MExAG) is a community-based, interdisciplinary body that provides science input and analysis for planning Mercury research and exploration activities. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/mexag/ |
| Ocean Worlds Working Group | The Cross-AG Ocean Worlds Working Group (OWWG) bridges planetary science and astrobiology to formulate an actionable long-term strategy for the exploration of ocean worlds. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/owwg/ |
| Outer Planets Assessment Group | The Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) is NASA's community-based forum designed to provide science input for planning outer planet exploration activities. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ |
| Small Bodies Assessment Group | The Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) identifies scientific priorities and opportunities for the exploration of asteroids, comets, interplanetary dust, small satellites, and Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/ |
| Venus Exploration Analysis Group | The Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) is a community-based forum that provides scientific input and technology development plans for shaping the exploration of Venus over the next several decades, including a Venus surface sample return mission. | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/ |
Additional Planetary Community Groups
Other NASA and non-NASA groups that shape planetary science through community and collaboration.
| International Astronomical Union | Founded in 1919, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is a non-governmental organization that aims to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education, and development, through international cooperation. | https://www.iau.org/ |
| International Organization for Standardization | The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental organization that brings together experts to define standards for a wide range of disciplines, including planetary data. | https://www.iso.org/home.html |
| International Planetary Data Alliance | The International Planetary Data Alliance (IPDA) is an association of partners with the aim of improving the quality and performance of space science data and services from space-based instrumentation and facilitating global access to high quality scientific data products. | https://ipda.jpl.nasa.gov/ |
| International Virtual Observatory Alliance | The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) is a forum that debates and builds consensus around the technical standards that are needed to make virtual observatories possible. | https://ivoa.net |
| OpenPlanetary | OpenPlanetary is an international nonprofit organization that helps planetary scientists and software developers share, discuss, and improve planetary data, tools, workflows and overall knowledge of the solar system. | https://www.openplanetary.org/ |
| Open Source Initiative | The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is a non-profit corporation that advocates for open-source software and engages the open-source community. | https://opensource.org/ |
| Planetary Science Advisory Committee | The NASA Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC) supports the advisory needs of the NASA Planetary Science Division (PSD), the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), other mission directorates as required, and the NASA Administrator. | https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/nac/science-advisory-committees/pac/ |
| Research Data Alliance | The Research Data Alliance (RDA) is a non-profit organization that hosts working groups, interest groups, and communities of practice dedicated to open data. | https://www.rd-alliance.org/ |
| Research Software Alliance | The Research Software Alliance (ReSA) is an organization that fosters collaboration between researchers, institutions, funders, and publishers to promote the importance of software developed for scientific and technological research efforts. | https://www.researchsoft.org/ |
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