MSL SPK files. =========================================================================== This ``aareadme.txt'' file describes contents of the kernels/spk directory of the MSL SPICE data server. It was last modified on May 9, 2018. Contact Chuck Acton (818-354-3869, Chuck.Acton@jpl.nasa.gov) or Boris Semenov (818-354-8136, Boris.Semenov@jpl.nasa.gov) if you have any questions regarding this data. If you are in a hurry ... -------------------------------------------------------- ... copy and use these SPK files to get the complete set of the best and latest MSL SPK data: msl_struct_v02.bsp de425s.bsp mar085s.bsp msl_cruise_v1.bsp msl_edl_v01.bsp msl_ls_ops120808_iau2000_v1.bsp msl_surf_rover_loc.bsp Brief summary -------------------------------------------------------- This directory contains the SPICE SP-Kernel files for the MSL mission. The following files are present in this directory. (Only file names are shown; the file name extensions of the binary SPK files are always ``.bsp''): Ever-growing MSL Rover Position SPK Files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contains the latest surface OPS data. msl_surf_rover_loc an ever-growing SPK file containing the position of the rover and of the numbered sites relative to the center of Mars in the Mars body-fixed frame, created using the ``localized_interp'' data from OPGS PLACES server, covering from SOL 0000 through the current SOL, updated twice each SOL at 06:30 and 18:30 LMST. msl_surf_rover_loc_runout SPK file extrapolating the latest rover position data point in msl_surf_rover_loc.bsp for ~10 years into the future. This SPK file can be used for predictive analysis applications ONLY if it is known that the rover did not (yet) change its position from the one provided by that data point. As soon as the rover changes its position the prediction provided by this SPK file becomes invalid. msl_surf_rover_tlm an ever-growing SPK file containing the position of the rover relative to the sites along the path and position of the sites relative to the landing site, created using telemetry view data from OPGS PLACES server, covering from SOL 0000 through the current SOL, updated twice each SOL at 06:30 and 18:30 LMST. msl_surf_rover_runout SPK file extrapolating the latest rover position data point in msl_surf_rover_tlm.bsp for ~10 years into the future. This SPK file can be used for predictive analysis applications ONLY if it is known that the rover did not (yet) change its position from the one provided by that data point. As soon as the rover changes its position the prediction provided by this SPK file becomes invalid. MSL Landing Site Position SPK Files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contains the position of the landing site. msl_ls_ops120808_iau2000_v1 SPK file containing the position of the actual landing site. msl_ls_gc120806_iau2000_vV SPK files containing the position of the target landing sites. MSL Cruise Trajectory SPK Files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contain the final and intermediate cruise trajectory solutions. msl_cruise_v1 SPK file containing the final cruise trajectory reconstruction. msl_cruise_merged_120808 SPK file containing a preliminary cruise trajectory reconstruction. msl_spk_cruise_od* SPK files containing OPS cruise trajectories delivered during cruise operations. msl_cruise default-name copy of the latest preliminary or OPS cruise SPK file. The companion file msl_cruise.bsp.history shows the msl_cruise.bsp update history. MSL EDL Trajectory SPK Files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contain EDL trajectory solutions from various sources. msl_edl_vV SPK files containing the reconstructed EDL trajectory determined by the MSL EDL Team, JPL. The file with the latest version number V supersedes all previous versions. Archival MSL Rover Surface Position SPK Files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contain the same data as the corresponding ever-growing OPS SPK, sub-setted for the archive release coverage ranges. msl_surf_rover_loc_BBBB_EEEE_vV SPK files containing the position of the rover and of the numbered sites relative to the center of Mars in the Mars body-fixed frame, created using the ``localized_interp'' data from OPGS PLACES serve, covering SOLs "BBBB" to "EEEE", version V. msl_surf_rover_tlm_BBBB_EEEE_vV SPK files containing the position of the rover relative to the sites along the path and position of the sites relative to the landing site, created using telemetry view data from OPGS PLACES server, covering SOLs "BBBB" to "EEEE", version V. Planetary and Satellite Ephemeris SPK Files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contain planetary and satellite ephemerides. deDDD[s] SPK files containing JPL planetary ephemerides version DDD. ``s'' is optional and indicates shortened coverage. marMMM[s] SPK files containing JPL martian satellite ephemerides version MMM. ``s'' is optional and indicates shortened coverage. MSL Structure and Instrument Offsets SPK files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contain fixed offsets between various rover structures and instruments. msl_struct_vVV SPK files containing fixed offsets between various rover structures and instruments. Special Purpose ``Connection'' SPK Files -------------------------------------------------------- These SPKs contain nominal position data. They are intended solely to provide the connections between various objects needed in time conversion applications and some test scenarios. msl_atls_* SPK files containing the fixed, zero-offset position of the rover relative to the landing site. msl_still_at_ls_vV SPK files containing the fixed, zero-offset position of the rover relative to the landing site. If multiple versions of an SPK file are provided, always use the latest version (unless earlier version is needed for some special reasons.)