PDS_VERSION_ID          = PDS3
RECORD_TYPE             = STREAM

OBJECT                  = TEXT
   INTERCHANGE_FORMAT   = ASCII
   PUBLICATION_DATE     = 2012-12-21
   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 
   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 C-kernels, a Spacecraft Clock Kernel (SCLK) is required.
   Also, for C-Kernels containing orientation of a project-defined
   frames, a Frame Definitions File is required.
 
   Refer to the ``ck.req'' document provided with the toolkit or
   available from the NAIF Node of PDS if SPICE toolkit is not included
   with this data set to get more information on how to access C-kernel
   data.


NEAR C-kernels Contained in This Data Set
=========================================

   The NEAR C-kernels are provided in this data set contain all
   spacecraft attitude available for the period that they cover. The
   kernels cover three month intervals and have names (for example:
   near_19960220_19960401_v01.bc), containing the start and stop dates
   of the file coverage in YYYYMMDD format. These CKs were made by
   merging 'as is' the original daily CKs that contained every
   spacecraft attitude data point downlinked to be used for science
   investigations. Science data taking was most often carried out with
   1 sample per second spacecraft attitude sampling.


Kernel File Details
===================

   The most detailed description of the data in a binary CK 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
===================

   For NEAR specific information, contact:

      NEAR Science Data Center
      Howard W. Taylor
      The Johns Hopkins University
      Applied Physics Laboratory
      11100 Johns Hopkins Road
      Laurel MD 20723
      Email: Howard.Taylor@jhuapl.edu

   For general information about the SPICE system:

      Charles H. Acton, Jr,
      (818)-354-3869,
      Chuck.Acton@jpl.nasa.gov,

   or

      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