WebGeocalc Usage Rules

The following rules of use and disclaimer apply to all uses of WebGeocalc (WGC). If you have any questions about the rules and requests listed below please contact the NAIF Manager before using WebGeocalc.

Getting Help from NAIF
WebGeocalc (WGC) is expected to open up "observation geometry" calculation capabilities to many people not currently using SPICE. Nevertheless WebGeocalc is a tool designed primarily for space science professionals. Successful use of WGC requires non-trivial knowledge about the space geometry domain and about NASA's SPICE ancillary information system. NAIF is limited in the amount of help that may be offered with regard to WGC use. Prospective users, including flight projects, proposers to NASA AOs, technology endeavors, and individual users, should carefully consider these limitations. Read the information on Support from NAIF available from the NAIF website.

Persons using a WebGeocalc installation other than the one at NAIF must ask for help from the operators of that installation.

Usage Warning
WebGeocalc is a rather new offering, providing a very different kind of interface to SPICE calculations than has been available for the past 20+ years. While there has been substantial testing of WGC, its newness demands extra caution on the part of users.

The NAIF Team will be continuously adding to WGC. While we hope to not remove or substantially change released capabilities, we cannot promise this to be the case.

WebGeocalc Revisions by NAIF
NAIF reserves the right to change any aspect of the WebGeocalc geometry engine, user interface and underlying data at any time, and without prior notice. (Note this is a very different change management policy from that used for the SPICE Toolkits.)

NASA, CALTECH/JPL and NAIF make no promises whatsoever about maintaining this tool and the underlying SPICE kernels (data) it uses. WGC may be discontinued at any time without prior notice.

WebGeocalc Revisions by Others
At some point the WebGeocalc server software might be offered to certain NAIF partners. Should this occur NAIF does NOT grant permission to change any of the geometry engine or user interface code; only the underlying kernel collection, the configuration file, the "About the Data" text, non-relevant portions of this "Rules of Use" text, and the items in the bottom (grey) information bar are to be adapted to reflect local circumstances.

Suggestions for Changes and Additions
NAIF is happy to receive customer's suggestions for changes and additions to the WebGeocalc tool, but makes no promises to act on any of these. Use the Feedback button at the top of WGC web pages.

Commercial Use of WebGeocalc
Use of WebGeocalc in support of commercial endeavors is allowed, subject to the restrictions on user support noted under "Getting Help from NAIF" above. No fees or licensing are required. Acknowledgement of the use of NASA's SPICE system, and in particular, WebGeocalc, is encouraged. Please contact the NAIF Manager if you have questions.

ITAR Status
It is the finding of NASA's export control official that none of the SPICE system data, software, training or consultation are used for or useful in the design, fabrication, or operations of spacecraft systems or instruments, and thus publication or provision is not restricted under ITAR. This finding applies ONLY to the WGC installation operated by NAIF

Logging
NAIF's instance of WebGeocalc creates a log of IP addresses that use this tool, showing successful and unsuccessful computation attempts. This log is intended to give NAIF staff metrics about how WebGeocalc might be improved, and, some idea of for what purposes WebGeocalc is found useful.

Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement in publications, presentations and tools of use of WebGeocalc, SPICE, NAIF/PDS resources and the providers of source data used in making SPICE kernels is encouraged. Please look here for reference information.

Disclaimer
THIS SOFTWARE AND ANY RELATED MATERIALS WERE CREATED BY THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CALTECH) UNDER A U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WITH THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA). THE SOFTWARE IS TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. EXPORT LAWS AND IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" TO THE RECIPIENT WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE OR MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE (AS SET FORTH IN UNITED STATES UCC§2312-§2313) OR FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER, FOR THE SOFTWARE AND RELATED MATERIALS, HOWEVER USED.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CALTECH, ITS JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, OR NASA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES AND/OR COSTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DAMAGE OR INJURY TO PROPERTY AND LOST PROFITS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER CALTECH, JPL, OR NASA BE ADVISED, HAVE REASON TO KNOW, OR, IN FACT, SHALL KNOW OF THE POSSIBILITY.

RECIPIENT BEARS ALL RISK RELATING TO QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE AND ANY RELATED MATERIALS, AND AGREES TO INDEMNIFY CALTECH AND NASA FOR ALL THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS RESULTING FROM THE ACTIONS OF RECIPIENT IN THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE

Sponsorship
WebGeocalc and the underlying SPICE system are implemented and maintained by Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is sponsored by the Planetary Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Mr. William Knopf is the NASA Program Executive in charge.