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<div>Folks-</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I'm pleased to be able to pass on some very good news. NASA's
chief export compliance officer, John Hall (<font
color="#000000">Director, Export Control and Interagency Liaison
Division</font>), has confirmed that none of the extent SPICE products
or services are restricted under ITAR export regulations. This
includes:</div>
<div><br></div>
<div> - generic kernels</div>
<div> - flight project kernels (U.S and foreign projects)</div>
<div> - all SPICE Toolkit software (including source code)</div>
<div> - all SPICE documents, tutorials and lessons</div>
<div> - all generic training</div>
<div> - all mission-specific consultation (U.S. and foreign
projects)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>This finding includes the so-called "Designated Countries"
such as India, China and Israel.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>JPL's export control officer is in full agreement with this NASA
finding.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>There are no residual issues/concerns about export restrictions
on any NAIF/SPICE products or services.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Thus, from an export control point of view, any/all U.S.
nationals are free to export<b> ANY</b> SPICE data to any
"foreign person," independent of any NASA flight project
ITAR restrictions. And any foreign person may re-distribute those
SPICE data at will.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Further, NAIF staff are not restricted under ITAR regulations
from providing consultation to any foreign national. Of course that
does not mean NAIF staff are funded to provide unlimited consultation
to anyone and everyone; we must operate within our sponsor's
programmatic rules the same as anyone else. :)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Soon the NAIF web pages will be updated to reflect this
hot-off-the-press news.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>While not a legal requirement, it is NAIF's suggestion that
Toolkit software not be distributed other than by NAIF or NAIF's
partners, such as the Research and Scientific Support Department at
ESA/ESTEC, to help ensure that SPICE users get a software package
appropriate for their computing environment and needs.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div>By the way, distribution and use of NAIF software is not
restricted or even licensed by Caltech. SPICE software is no longer
copyrighted by Caltech. Anyone and any entity, public or private, U.S.
or foreign, is free to use SPICE software and data. Use of SPICE
software in commercial products that are to be sold is encouraged.
That said, use of SPICE software by any person is subject to the
disclaimer spelled out on the RULES page at the NAIF website:<font
color="#000000"> http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/rules.html</font>. (The
"rules" have NOT yet been updated to reflect the latest NASA
findings... but will be soon.)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Needless to say, NAIF staff are very pleased to be able to
continue sharing the benefits of many years of generous NASA funding
to help advance the cause of space science. With the previously
nagging export issues fully behind us we look forward to continuing to
work with interested parties in providing the science and engineering
communities with tools and products that will help make space
exploration "cheaper, faster and better." We hope to
participate with interested colleagues around the globe to find ways
that can make the best use of all agencies' expertise, tools and data
products. It seems there is much that could still be done to make the
acquisition, sharing, and use of "space geometry" easier...
and who knows, maybe even exciting!</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Please feel free to pass on this note to any other interested
teams/persons.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Best regards on behalf of the NAIF team (all four of us!),</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>--Chuck Acton</div>
<div> NAIF Manager/JPL</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>P.S. The next NAIF Toolkit release, N0061, is expected by
approximately the end of November. Among the additions you will find
several new supported computing environments and substantial
hyperlinking of much of the documentation and source code
headers.</div>
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