VEX EK SPICE Kernels
  =====================

       This ``aareadme.txt'' file describes the contents of the
       kernels/ek directory of the VEX SPICE data server.

       It was last modified on June 3rd, 2020 by Alfredo Escalante
       Lopez, ESAC/ESA.


  Contact Information
  ========================================================================

   Alfredo Escalante Lopez, ESAC/ESA +34 91 8131 429 alfredo.escalante@esa.int

   Marc Costa Sitja, ESAC/ESA, +34 91 8131 457 marc.costa@esa.int

   Boris Semenov, NAIF/JPL, (818) 354-8136, boris.semenov@jpl.nasa.gov


  References and required readings
  ================================

       1. ``Frames Required Reading'', NAIF Document


General information about SPICE E-kernels
=========================================

   The purpose of the Events (E) -kernel (EK) is to store
   instrument and spacecraft commands and status information.

   The means of accessing the EK data are provided via a collection of
   subroutines that are part of the SPICELIB library, the major
   component of the SPICE Toolkit, or via the SPICE system utility
   programs, such as INSPEKT. The subroutines can be integrated into a
   user's application program while the INSPEKT program can be used to
   view E-kernel information interactively.

   To use E-kernels a SPICE Leapseconds (LSK) kernel is required.

   Refer to the EK.REQ documents provided with the Toolkit or available
   from the NAIF Node of PDS to get more information on how to access
   E-kernel data.



  Brief Summary
  =============

   The most detailed description of the data in a binary EK file is
   provided in metadata included inside the comment area of the file.
   This information can be viewed using the utility programs COMMNT and
   SPACIT included in the NAIF Toolkit. The Toolkit is available from
   the NAIF website.

   All binary EK files (*.BES) contained in this directory are UNIX binary
   files. These may be used as is (without format conversion) in a non-UNIX
   environment when using any recent version of the SPICE Toolkit (Version
   N0052 or later).


  Venus Express EK Directory Structure
  =====================================

    aareadme.txt            This file.

    VEX_HGA_RAD_Vxx.BES     This kernel contains radiation pattern
                            measures for the High Gain antenna 1,
                            provided to J. Vazquez and S. Remus (ESA)
                            by Rafael Caballero de la Vega (CASA
                            Espacio).

   Note that several versions of the same kernel can be provided. In that
   case, the file with the highest version number is the most up to date, and
   the one that should be used.