PDS_VERSION_ID           = PDS3                                      
RECORD_TYPE              = STREAM                                    
                                                                     
OBJECT                      = TEXT                                   
   INTERCHANGE_FORMAT       = ASCII                                  
   PUBLICATION_DATE         = 1998-07-11                             
   NOTE                     = "SP-Kernel Information"                              
END_OBJECT                  = TEXT                                   
                                                                     
END 

General information about SPICE SP-kernels
==========================================

   The purpose of the SP-kernel -- which stands for S(pacecraft) and
   P(lanet) Kernel -- is to allow ephemerides for any collection of
   solar system bodies, spacecrafts or any other objects in 3D space
   to be combined under a common file format, and accessed by a common
   set of subroutines.
   
   The SPK format is supported by a collection of subroutines that
   are part of the SPICELIB library, the major component of the NAIF
   Toolkit. 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 SP-kernels, a Leapseconds (LSK) is required.
   Please, use LSK file located under /LSK subdirectory of the main
   directory of this dataset. Also, to use SP-Kernels containing positions
   given relative to the non-inertial and project-defined frames, a
   Frame Definitions (FRAMES) and Planetary Constants (PcK) files are
   required. Please, use the files located under /FK and /PCK
   subdirectories of the /DATA directory of this dataset. Refer to
   the SPK.REQ document provided with the toolkit to get more information
   on how to access SP-kernel data.


Mars Pathfinder SP-kernels provided in this dataset
===================================================

   The MPF SP-kernels provided in this data set contain 
   
    * position and velocity of the MPF spacecraft relative to the Sun in
      the J2000 Earth Equator and Equinox inertial reference frame (for
      cruise phase);
      
    * location of the lander relative to the initial landing site in
      surface fixed frame (for surface operations phase);
      
    * location of the initial landing site relative the center of Mars
      in the Mars body-fixed frame;
      
   All this data is actual (reconstructed).
   
   The Solar system bodies ephemeris data SP-kernel files, containing
   JPL's Development Ephemerides (DE) 405 and Martian Satellite
   Ephemerides (MAR) 033.2, were used by MPF project NAV team
   and are also provided in this dataset.

   Two more SP-Kernels containing 
      
    * locations of various MPF structures relative to the lander origin in
      the lander frame;
      
    * path of the MPF rover (Sojourner) relative to the initial landing site
      location in the surface-fixed frame;
      
   may be added to this data set when lander and rover engineering data 
   processing is completed. 


SP-kernel file naming schema
============================

   All SP-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.BSP, where "name" portion 
   (FILENAME) of each file name is as follows:
      
      MPF_CRUS    Lander cruise trajectory SPK file
      MPF_SURF    Lander surface location SPK file
      MPF_LS      Landing site initial location SPK file
      
      DE405       Development Ephemerides (DE) 405 SPK file
      MAR033-2    Martian Satellite Ephemerides (MAR) 033.2 SPK file
      
   two more SPK files when (if) added to this data set will be called:
   
      MPF_STRC    Lander structures locations SPK file
      MPF_RVR     Rover path SPK file
      
   The label for each SP-kernel file is stored separately in a 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