PDS_VERSION_ID = PDS3 RECORD_TYPE = STREAM OBJECT = TEXT INTERCHANGE_FORMAT = ASCII PUBLICATION_DATE = 2018-07-31 NOTE = "MSL 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, spacecraft 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 files can be accessed and manipulated using the SPICE Toolkit APIs, calls to which can be integrated into user application programs. The information regarding how to obtain the SPICE system toolkit for a number of languages and computer platforms is located in the ``/software'' subdirectory of the main directory of this data set. To use SP-kernels, a Leapseconds (LSK) is required. Also, to use SP-Kernels containing positions given relative to the non-inertial and project-defined frames, a Frame Definitions (FK) and Planetary Constants (PCK) files are required. Refer to the ``spk.req'' document provided with the toolkit to get more information on how to access SP-kernel data. MSL SP-kernels Provided in This Data Set ========================================= The following MSL SP-kernels are provided in this data set (only the name portion of the file name is shown; the extension of all file names is ``.bsp''): Cruise Trajectory SPK files: msl_cruise_vV SPK files containing the reconstructed cruise trajectory determined by the MSL NAV Team, JPL. The file with the latest version number V supersedes all previous versions. EDL Trajectory SPK files: 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. Landing site location SPK file: msl_ls_ops120808_iau2000_v1 SPK file containing the landing site location relative to the center of Mars in the Mars body-fixed frame (IAU_MARS, based on IAU 2000 Mars rotation constants), determined by the MSL Localization Group, JPL. msl_atls_ops120808_v1 SPK file containing position of the rover fixed at the landing site. This file was used during operations by CHRONOS and other applications that were not sensitive to the local rover movements. Rover path and site locations SPK files: msl_surf_rover_loc_BBBB_EEEE_vV SPK files containing the localized locations of the sites along the path relative to the center of Mars and the localized location of the rover relative to the center of Mars, created using the localized_interp view data from the OPGS PLACES server, covering SOLs "BBBB" to "EEEE", version V. These SPKs provide significantly more accurate information compared to the telemetry-based SPKs. The files with the later coverage range and the latest version number V supersede competing data from files with earlier coverage and versions. msl_surf_rover_tlm_BBBB_EEEE_vV SPK files containing the telemetry-based locations of the sites along the path relative to the landing site and the telemetry-based location of the rover relative to these sites, created using telemetry view data from OPGS PLACES server, covering SOLs "BBBB" to "EEEE", version V. The files with the later coverage range and the latest version number V supersede competing data from files with earlier coverage and versions. Solar System planets and satellites ephemeris SPK files: de425s SPK file containing JPL's Planetary Ephemerides DE425. mar085s SPK file containing JPL's Martian Satellite Ephemerides MAR085. Rover structures and instruments locations SPK files: msl_struct_vV SPK files providing relative locations of various MSL structures and science and engineering instruments. The file with the latest version number V supersedes all previous versions. Kernel File Details =================== The most detailed description of the data in each SPK file is provided in metadata included inside the comment area of the file. This information can be viewed using utility programs COMMNT and SPACIT included into the NAIF Toolkit. Contact Information =================== Regarding MSL project specific information provided in this data set and for general information about SPICE system: Boris 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