MEX FK SPICE Kernels ==================== This "aareadme.txt" file describes the contents of the kernels/fk directory of the MEX SPICE data server. It also provides the file naming conventions used for the MEX CK files. 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 provide specifically for the Radio Science investigation. 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. At least a basic knowledge of the SPICE system is needed in order to use this kernels. The SPICE toolkit provides versions in Fortran (SPICELIB), C (CSPICE), IDL (icy) and Matlab (mice), and the user can choose any one that suits him/her. The SPICELIB routine FURNSH, CSPICE function furnsh_c, and icy and matlab routine cspice_furnsh load a kernel file into the kernel pool as shown below. CALL FURNSH ( 'kernel_name' ) furnsh_c ( "kernel_name" ); cspice_furnsh, 'kernel_name' cspice_furnsh( 'kernel_name' ) In the case when two or more files contain data overlapping in time for a given object, for binary kernels, the file loaded last takes precedence. If two (or more) text kernels assign value(s) using the '=' operator to identical keywords, the data value(s) associated with the last loaded occurrence of the keyword are used (all earlier values have been replaced with the last loaded value(s) ). All FK files (*.TF) contained in this directory are UNIX text files. These may be downloaded to a different system (Mac OS, Windows) by using the ASCII mode of FTP. Contact ESA SPICE Team esa_spice@sciops.esa.int , or Jose Luis Vazquez jlvazquez@sciops.esa.int if you have any questions. References ========== 1. Frames Required Reading (NAIF Document). 2. NAIF IDs Required Reading (NAIF Document). All the NAIF Documents are available at the NAIF web: http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov Mars Express FK Directory Structure =================================== aareadme.txt This file. former_versions Subdirectory that contains obsolete versions of the FK files that have been updated in the Current FK Kernel Set. EARTH_TOPO_yymmdd.TF FK kernel for the topocentric reference frames for the Deep Space Network (DSN) stations. This kernel was released on yy-mm-dd. EARTHFIXEDIAU.TF This kernel makes the IAU_EARTH frame coincide with the earth fixed reference frame. EARTHFIXEDITRF93.TF This kernel makes the ITRF93 frame coincide with the earth fixed reference frame. MEX_Vxx.TF FK containing the complete set of frame definitions for the Mars Express Spacecraft (MEX) and Beagle-2 Lander (BEAGLE2) including definitions for the MEX fixed and MEX science instrument frames and BEAGLE2 fixed, and landing site local frames. This kernel also contains NAIF ID/name mapping for the MEX and BEAGLE2 instruments. NEW_NORCIA_TOPO.TF FK kernel for the topocentric reference frame for the ESA 35m tracking antenna at New Norcia. RSSDvvvv.TF FK kernel defining a number of mission independent frames that could be used by any of the users of any of the ESA planetary missions and that are not "built" in the SPICE toolkit. The following frames related to Mars are implemented: Mars Mean Equator of Date (MME), Mars-centric Solar Orbital of Date (MSO) and Mars Mean Equator of date J2000 (MME2000). ------------------- This file was last modified on March 4th, 2009. (J. Vazquez)