PDS_VERSION_ID          = PDS3
RECORD_TYPE             = STREAM

OBJECT                  = TEXT
   INTERCHANGE_FORMAT   = ASCII
   PUBLICATION_DATE     = 2008-11-12
   NOTE                 = "Viking Orbiter E-Kernel Information"
END_OBJECT              = TEXT

END

General Information About SPICE E-Kernels
=========================================

   The purpose of the Events (E) -kernel is to store different kinds of
   the spacecraft and science instrument events related information
   such as spacecraft and instrument commands, status parameters,
   records of spacecraft activities, ground events, and so on, and to
   systematize and provide access to this data in relational data base
   -like fashion.

   The means of an access to the EK data are provided via collection of
   the SPICE Toolkit APIs, calls to which can be integrated into user
   application programs, and SPICE system program INSPEKT, a utility
   program for browsing E-kernel contents. 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 E-kernels with INSPEKT program, a Leapseconds (LSK) is
   required.

   Refer to the ``ek.req'' and ``inspekt.ug'' documents provided with
   the toolkit to get more information on how to access E-kernel data.


Viking Orbiter E-kernels Provided in This Data Set
==================================================

   The following Viking Orbiter E-kernels are provided in this data
   set:

   -- Orbiter image and ancillary data catalogs:

      vo_washu.bdb      PDS VO Images Catalog available from the PDS
                        Geosciences Node at Washington University (S.
                        Slavley and E. Guinness).

      vo_sedr.bdb       VO Images Catalog containing original image and
                        platform orientation data from SEDR
                        (Supplemental Experiment Data Record) files
                        generated by the Viking project. (SEDR provided
                        by K.Edwards, USGS Astrogeology )

   -- Viking Orbiter image time tags analysis and reconstruction EKs:

      vo1_time.bdb      SPICE DBK files containing all possible
                        variants of VO1 camera image time tags used by
                        different people/groups for Viking Orbiters
                        image registration.
 
      vo2_time.bdb      SPICE DBK files containing all possible
                        variants of VO2 camera image time tags used by
                        different people/groups for Viking Orbiters
                        image registration.
 
      vo1_trec.bdb      SPICE DBK files containing reconstruction of
                        the VO1 time tags using a piecewise linear
                        interpolation function.
 
      vo2_trec.bdb      SPICE DBK files containing reconstruction of
                        the VO2 time tags using a piecewise linear
                        interpolation function.


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

   The most detailed description of the data in a binary EK 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.

   The VO Camera images catalogs files -- ``vo_washu.bdb'' and
   ``vo_sedr.bdb'' -- are intended to make original meta information
   for VO camera images available through SPICE.

   The VO image time tag files -- ``vo1_time.bdb'' and ``vo2_time.bdb''
   -- can be used to obtain one or more variants of time tag of an
   individual VO camera image and to get a list images used in a
   particular cartographic registration data set. For more information
   about these files refer to ``vo_time.txt'' document located in the
   ``document'' directory of this data set.

   The VO image time tag reconstruction files -- ``vo1_trec.bdb'' and
   ``vo2_trec.bdb'' -- can be used to obtain original SEDR or corrected
   (by NAIF) time tag of an individual VO camera images. For more
   information about these files refer to ``vo_trec.txt''  document
   located in the ``document'' directory of this data set.


Contact Information
===================

   Regarding VO 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 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