Call for Papers: Solar System Exploration @ 50 Symposium

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first successful planetary mission, Mariner 2 sent to Venus, the NASA History Program Office and the Division of Space History at the National Air and Space Museum invite papers for a conference relating to the history of planetary exploration. This historical symposium will be held in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 25-27, 2012.

Entitled “Solar System Exploration @ 50,” the purpose of this symposium is to consider what we have learned about the other bodies of the solar system and the process whereby we have learned it. This symposium seeks to pursue broader questions relating to the history of planetary exploration.

International scholars and graduate students seeking exposure to the history of the planetary sciences are particularly welcome. Proposals for papers should include a title and abstract, as well as the author’s curriculum vita. Please send all proposals, in the form of a 300-word abstract and a brief vita electronically to Dr. William P. Barry, NASA chief historian, at bill.barry@nasa.gov, and Dr. Roger D. Launius, senior curator in space history at the National Air and Space Museum, launiusr@si.edu.

The deadline for abstract submissions is Feb. 21, 2012.

For more information, visit http://history.nasa.gov/Solar%20System%20Exploration%20@%2050%20Call%20for%20Papers.pdf.