General Information About SPICE FRAMES Kernels ============================================== In the SPICE system, the FRAMES kernel contains a set of information required to define various reference frames specific to a particular mission, sources of orientation and origin location information for these frames, and inter-connections between these frames and other, generic frames supported within the SPICE system. The frame definitions information contained in the file can be utilized by a collection of subroutines to provide correct interpretation for the SPICE data from SP- and C-kernels. These subroutines are part of the SPICE library, the principal component of the SPICE Toolkit. For information on the SPICE toolkit and/or how to obtain it, please consult SPICE_INST.CAT and SOFT.CAT. Refer to the FRAMES.REQ document provided with the Toolkit to get more information about definition and usage of the frames within SPICE system. Mars Express FK Files ===================== This file describes the contents of the DATA/FK directory of the Mars Express SPICE dataset. All these FK files are produced manually with the information supplied by MARS EXPRESS teams describing the frames for the spacecraft and its science instruments. Some of these FK files (for tracking stations) are provided specifically for the Radio Science investigation. At the beginning of the kernel, there is usually a version-tracking paragraph, providing information about the creators of the kernel. All FK files (*.TF) contained in this directory are unix text files. In order to be used in a non-UNIX environment, they have to be converted to the appropiate end-line convention. For example, the lines have to be terminated by a combination for Windows platforms. Mars Express FRAMES Kernels Contained in this Data Set ====================================================== Note that when more than one version of a kernel is available in this dateset, the most recent supersedes all the others, and therefore it should be used. The following Mars Express FRAMES kernels are provided in this data set (only name portion of the file name is shown; extension of all file names is '.TF'): EARTH_TOPO_yymmdd FK kernel for the topocentric reference frames for the Deep Space Network (DSN) stations. This kernel was released on yy-mm-dd. EARTHFIXEDIAU This kernel makes the IAU_EARTH frame coincide with the earth fixed reference frame. EARTHFIXEDITRF93 This kernel makes the ITRF93 frame coincide with the Earth fixed reference frame. MEX_Vvv Complete set of frame definitions for the Mars Express Spacecraft (MEX) and Beagle-2 Lander including definitions for the MEX fixed and MEX science instrument frames and Beagle-2 fixed, Beagle-2 instrument, and landing site local frames. This kernel also contains NAIF ID/name mapping for the MEX and Beagle-2 instruments. vv is the version number. NEW_NORCIA_TOPO FK kernel for the topocentric reference frame for the ESA 35m tracking antenna at New Norcia. RSSDvvvv Generic Frames Definition Kernel for ESA Planetary Missions. vvvv is the version number ESTRACK_V01.TF Kernel with frame definitions for all the ESA ESTRACK ground stations. Please note that the data in this kernel are low accuracy. Kernel File Details =================== The most detailed description of the data in an FK file is provided in metadata included inside the description area of the file. This information can be viewed using any text editor program.