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Program

50 Years of Lunar Science: The Apollo Legacy

This session will highlight the advances made in lunar science in the years since Apollo, ranging from major early discoveries about the fundamental nature of the Moon to important recent findings arising from sample studies and spacecraft missions. Talks will cover lunar formation and evolution and important insights from lunar igneous rocks, impact processes, and regolith dynamics. Talks in this oral session will be by invitation only.

50 Years of Planetary Science: Inspiration of Apollo

This session will include a grand tour of the major solar system bodies and show how understanding the Moon became the foundation of the field. Talks will cover highlights of spacecraft mission findings and how they have combined with sample studies, modeling, and experimentation to produce our current understanding of the solar system. Talks in this oral session will be by invitation only.

New Horizons at 2014 MU69

The New Horizons spacecraft, NASA’s first New Frontiers mission, will ring in the new (Earth) year with a flyby of Kuiper belt object 2014 MU69, provisionally named Ultima Thule. This session will feature results and images from the encounter, the furthest ever from the Sun by a spacecraft.

Going Inside with InSight

The NASA Discovery mission InSight is scheduled to land on Mars on November 26, 2018, after which it will deploy its geophysical instrument suite to investigate the properties of the martian interior. This session will include the first results from this lander.

Hayabusa2: Unveiling Asteroid Ryugu

The JAXA robotic sample return mission Hayabusa2 has been making spectacular discoveries at the C-type asteroid Ryugu since its arrival in June. This session will highlight the latest results from this diamond-shaped body.

OSIRIS-REx at Asteroid Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx New Frontiers asteroid sample return mission to the primitive B-type asteroid Bennu will be well into its detailed survey phase by the time of LPSC. This session will feature results from the approach and preliminary survey stages as well as the very latest from the detailed survey.

Special Session Abstract Submission Rules —

Authors submitting abstracts for one of these sessions should select the appropriate “Special Session:” topic on the abstract submission form. Abstracts submitted to a special session constitute one of the two abstracts allowed per first author. Remember that even though first authors can submit two abstracts, only one abstract per first author can be considered for oral presentation.

50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference banner



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The 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands, Texas, March 18–22, 2019.

This conference brings together international specialists in petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, geology, and astronomy to present the latest results of research in planetary science. The 4.5-day conference will be organized by topical symposia and problem-oriented sessions.

Important Dates

Tuesday, January 8, 2019	Deadline for abstract submission
Wednesday, January 9, 2019	Deadline for Dwornik Award applications
Friday, January 11, 2019	Deadline for peripheral meeting space requests Deadline for LPI Career Development Award applications
Friday, January 18, 2019	Deadline to submit Large Image Showcase requests Begin accepting applications for Microbloggers
Thursday, January 31, 2019	Deadline for Exhibitor registration
Friday, February 1, 2019	Program and abstracts available on this website
Friday, February 15, 2019	Deadline for Microblogger applications
Monday–Friday, March 18–22, 2019	50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas

Friday, November 16, 2018	Deadline for submitting Indication of Interest form
Monday, November 19, 2018	Abstract submission opens

About LPSC

A speaker addresses attendees at the Third Lunar Science Conference held January 10–13, 1972, at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston.

The Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), jointly organized by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), brings together international specialists in petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, geology, and astronomy from around the world to present the latest results of research in planetary science. LPSC is the premier planetary science conference in the world. Since its beginning in 1970, when it was called the Apollo 11 Lunar Science Conference, the meeting has been a significant focal point for planetary science research, with nearly 1800 planetary scientists and students representing 41 countries attending the conference each year.

Today, LPSC features a broad range of planetary topics with more than 1300 poster presentations.

LPSC features 4.5 days of oral and poster presentations organized by topical symposia and problem-oriented sessions based on submitted abstracts. LPSC receives over 2000 abstracts from around the world from Argentina and Ireland to Switzerland and Vatican City. 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. A number of Special Sessions and Highlighted Events are also scheduled throughout the week of the conference covering a variety of topics, including events in planetary science and current planetary missions and their results.

LPSC is unique because it draws a significant student population — over 30% — which provides opportunities for early career scientists to discuss research with senior colleagues.

Despite the growth of the conference over the years, LPSC remains a community-focused conference fostering a collegial environment in which the discussion of relevant scientific and technological issues aims to advance understanding of the solar system and promote scientific discovery.

Latest Updates

Request a participant letter online via the visa letter request form.
Abstract submission is now open! The deadline is Tuesday, January 8, 2019.
Local hotel room blocks are now open!
Special sessions have been designated to celebrate the 50th anniversary of LPSC. Be sure to check them out.
Student first authors may be interested in applying for the Dwornik Award or the LPI Career Development Award.

Meet the Organizers

LPSC is a joint effort between the Lunar and Planetary Institute and NASA.

Conference Co-Chairs

Louise Prockter Lunar and Planetary Institute

Eileen Stansbery NASA Johnson Space Center

Program Committee Co-Chairs

David Draper NASA Johnson Space Center

Walter Kiefer Lunar and Planetary Institute

Meeting Coordination

Mayra De Leon - Meeting Planner USRA/Lunar and Planetary Institute

Ingrid Dudley - Meeting Planner USRA/Lunar and Planetary Institute

Linda Garcia - Registration
and Abstracts USRA/Lunar and Planetary Institute

Debbie Mitchell - Meeting Planner USRA/Lunar and Planetary Institute

LPSC Statement on Harassment

The Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for participants regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, religion, or other protected status. LPSC events are working conferences intended for professional networking and collaboration in the lunar and planetary science community. While at LPSC events or related ancillary or social events, any participants, including speakers, attendees, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, booth staff and anyone else, should not engage in harassment in any form. All event participants are expected to behave according to professional standards and in accordance with their employer's policies on appropriate workplace behavior. For issues or concerns during the conference, please contact the LPI Director, Louise Prockter, or any LPI staff member at the LPSC help desk. For issues that arise outside of normal registration hours, contact the hotel security staff by dialing “0” from any hotel phone.