[Spice_discussion] Python Interface

[K.-Michael Aye]

Dear all,

I would like to renew my call for a Python interface for SPICE, and I think, this time, I even have very good arguments! ;)

The available software libraries for doing scientific data analysis with Python are quite complete, I would say.
The libraries numpy and scipy (http://www.scipy.org/) bring fast-processable multi-dimensional data arrays (numpy) and a huge set of scientific libraries (scipy) for
	• Astronomy
	• Artificial intelligence & machine learning
	• Bayesian Statistics
	• Biology (including Neuroscience)
	• Dynamical systems
	• Economics and Econometrics
	• Electromagnetics
	• Geosciences
	• Molecular modeling
	• Signal processing
	• Symbolic math, number theory, etc.

Via the GDAL library (a translator library for raster geospatial data formats), I have access to basically all data formats that can be worked with in a GIS-way, e.g. currently I am working with gigabyte-sized HiRISE data cubes, that have been produced with the ISIS environment.

Additionally, the super-easy to use Visual Python library (http://vpython.org/) makes it very easy, for example, to visualize the progress of a simulation environment, or to design a maybe complex geological (or optical) situation in a planetary observation, that then can be looked at, interactively, from all sides to understand the available data.

So, with all these free and openly available tools to work with Python on solar system science data, there is now only one little, but important thing missing, and that is SPICE. 
Imagine how easy it would be, to render 3-D results out of SPICE into an interactive controllable 3-D scene with VPython? Any complex set of reference systems of scientific instruments could be built into VPython to help for operation and observation planning.

Additionally, the combinatorial ways of GIS processing make this way of planetary data processing increasingly popular. The addition of SPICE calculations as another dimension into a GIS data cube would only benefit these kind of analyses.

I don't have anything against Java personally, but I strongly doubt, that it has such a good position in terms of what SPICE is made for: "to assist in planning and interpreting scientific observations from space-based instruments."
Therefore, I quite don't see, how it makes sense to give the same amount of attention to a Java and a Python interface to SPICE by an understaffed NAIF team. 

What's your and the readers' opinion, don't I sound convincing? ;)

Best regards, happy holidays and a happy new year!
Michael

PS.:
I was shocked, by the way, by Charles' message that his funding was cut or not extended. Charles, I don't know if that would help you, but maybe I can make some noise in the European labs about your situation? Maybe we could put together a letter of appreciation of the European planetary scientists working with SPICE? Let me know, if you would appreciate these kind of activities or not.)