MEPAG (NASA MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAM ANALYSIS GROUP), Apr 21-23, 2026, Baltimore, MD/virtual

Update, April 9:  The meeting will take place and the agenda is posted.

Update, February 7:  NASA’s Planetary Science Division has decided to terminate support for all of its Analysis/Assessment Groups, or AGs, at the end of April 2026. This April 21-23 meeting apparently will still take place, but check the MEPAG website for up to date information.

The AG chairs, including MEPAG chair Vicky Hamilton, issued this statement about future plans:

The recent decision by NASA’s Planetary Science Division to cease financial support for planetary science Analysis/Assessment Groups (AGs), effective the end of April 2026, is deeply disappointing. That support enabled, among other things, day-to-day leadership of the AGs, in-person meetings of the science community (including NASA officials), and websites for the dissemination of information and reports to the science community and the public.  

Nonetheless, we are committed to continuing to represent the interests of the planetary science community with respect to workforce development/networking, maintaining our international reputation for high standards of scientific research and discovery, providing expert feedback on NASA’s deep space and human exploration plans, and supporting flight mission priorities as outlined in our Decadal Survey. This change also presents new opportunities to expand the topics we address and how we communicate more broadly. We strongly believe that our work will remain relevant and valuable to all of our stakeholders, including NASA. 

Each AG is working to establish new mechanisms of support for continuing our work and making it available to each other, NASA, the US taxpayers, and their elected representatives. Some of the AG approaches may be coordinated, and others may depend on our individual needs. Look for announcements in the coming weeks and months as we establish new mailing lists, and be sure to sign up to stay informed about our activities.

The AG Chairs

Yang Liu, ExMAG

Ben Greenhagen, LEAG

Julie Stopar, MAPSIT

Vicky Hamilton, MEPAG

Stephen Parman, MExAG

Morgan Cable and Carol Paty, OPAG

Terik Daly, SBAG

Debra Buczkowski, VEXAG

Original Entry: NASA’s Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) will meet from April 21-23, 2026 at Johns Hopkins at Mt. Washington campus in Baltimore, MD and online.

More information is on MEPAG’s website.