PDS_VERSION_ID           = PDS3
RECORD_TYPE              = STREAM

OBJECT                      = TEXT
   INTERCHANGE_FORMAT       = ASCII
   PUBLICATION_DATE         = 1998-07-05
   NOTE                     = "C-Kernel Information"
END_OBJECT                  = TEXT

END 


General information about SPICE C-kernels
=========================================

   In the SPICE system, pointing data for an instrument platform, or
   for a specific instrument, are stored C-kernels.  The pointing of
   a platform or an instrument is often expressed in terms of a
   transformation matrix from some standard inertial reference frame
   to a instrument-fixed frame. In the past, the instrument was often
   a camera, and the transformation was thus dubbed the ``C-matrix'';
   hence the choice of C as the name for the pointing kernel.
   
   The data contained in C-kernel files can be accessed and manipulated
   by a collection of FORTRAN 77 subroutines which are part of the
   SPICELIB library. These subroutines can be integrated into user
   application programs. The SPICE system toolkit for a number of
   computer platforms is located in the SOFTWARE subdirectory of the
   main directory of this dataset. To use C-kernels, a Spacecraft
   Clock Kernel (SCLK) is required. Please, use the SCLK file located
   under /SCLK subdirectory of the /DATA directory of this dataset.
   Also, for C-Kernels containing orientation of a project-defined
   frames, a Frame Definitions File is required. Please, use the Frame
   Definitions File located under /FRAMES subdirectory of the /DATA
   directory of this dataset. Refer to the CK.REQ document provided
   with the toolkit to get more information on how to access C-kernel
   data.


Mars Pathfinder C-kernels contained in this dataset
===================================================

   The MPF C-kernels provide the transformations between various frames 
   defined and used by the project, such as:
   
      - LOCAL LEVEL frame,
      - SURFACE FIXED frame,
      - LANDER frame,
      - IMP CAMERA HEAD frame.
      
   MPF ROVER frame orientation C-kernels may be added to this data set when 
   rover engineering data processing is completed.
            
   The C-Kernels included on this CD-ROM contain real orientation for
   these frames, computed from various kinds of telemetry and s/c
   tracking data (see comment area of a particular file for detailed
   information).


C-kernel file naming schema
===========================

   All C-kernel files in this dataset were created on a workstation 
   running UNIX and, therefore, correspond to IEEE binary file format.
   The file names follow the schema FILENAME.BC, where "name" portion 
   (FILENAME) of each file name is as follows:
   
         MPF_LL         Local Level Frame C-Kernel file
         MPF_LND        Lander Frame C-Kernel file
         MPF_SF         Surface Fixed Frame C-Kernel file
         MPF_IMP        IMP Camera Head C-Kernel file (non-corrected data)
         MPF_IMPB       IMP Camera Head C-Kernel file (backlash corrected
                        data) 
                                    
   Rover Frame C-Kernel File will be named MPF_RVR when (if) it will be 
   added to this data set.

   The label for each C-kernel file is stored separately in file named
   FILENAME.LBL.
   
  
Contact Information
===================

   Regarding MPF project specific information provided in this data
   set and for general information about SPICE system:
   
      Charles H. Acton, Jr, 
      (818)-354-3869, 
      Chuck.Acton@jpl.nasa.gov, 
      
   or 
   
      Boris V. Semenov, 
      (818)-354-8136, 
      Boris.Semenov@jpl.nasa.gov
      
   address:
   
      Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF)
      Jet Propulsion Laboratory
      MS 301-125L
      4800 Oak Grove Drive
      Pasadena CA 91109 USA