PDS_VERSION_ID = PDS3 DATA_SET_ID = "MEX-M-ASPERA3-2_3-EDR_RDR-NPI-V1.0" RECORD_TYPE = STREAM INSTRUMENT_HOST_NAME = "MARS EXPRESS" INSTRUMENT_HOST_ID = "MEX" MISSION_NAME = "MARS EXPRESS" OBJECT = TEXT PUBLICATION_DATE = 2009-02-06 NOTE = "MEX ASPERA-3 STANDARD DATA ARCHIVE" END_OBJECT = TEXT END MEX ASPERA-3 STANDARD DATA ARCHIVE 1. Overview ============================================================================== This archive contains data from the Neutral Particle Imager (NPI) component of the ASPERA-3 instrument from the Mars Express mission. The NPI instrument measures energetic neutral particles in the energy range from 0.1-60 keV. The general scientific objectives of ASPERA-3 are to study the solar wind and atmosphere interaction, and to characterize the plasma and neutral gas environment in the near-Mars space through energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging and in-situ plasma measurements. The specific science measurements to carry out these goals are: 1. Integral ENA fluxes in the energy range of 0.1 to 60 keV. Neutral Particle Imager (NPI) 2. Mass/energy resolved neutral hydrogen and oxygen atom spectra in the energy range of 0.1 to 100 keV. Neutral Particle Detector (NPD) 3. Ion energy/mass/angle resolved spectra in the energy range of 0.01 to 40 keV; 1-106 atomic mass units per unit charge (amu/q); with 4pi steradian coverage. Ion Mass Analyzer (IMA) 4. Electron spectra in energy range of 0.05 eV to 20 keV, with up to 4pi steradian coverage. However, due to spacecraft blockage, 4pi coverage is never really achieved. Electron Spectrometer (ELS) The ASPERA-3 archived data sets contain data measurements necessary to satisfy the scientific goals and objectives. Getting Started: ---------------- For more information and detail concerning the organization and contents of the ASPERA-3 data sets, refer to the ASPERA-3 Experiment to Archive Interface Control Document (EAICD) found in the DOCUMENT directory (MEX_ASPERA3_PSA_ICD_V01_03). The ASPERA3_NPI_EDR_RDR_DS.CAT file found in the CATALOG directory provides the Neutral Particle Imager (NPI) combined raw/calibrated (cnts/sec) data set description. Look in the DOCUMENT directory for the following (present in some releases of this archive): Instrument Description Documents ASPERA3_MEX_EXP.PDF - Provides detailed information about the ASPERA-3 experiment, instrumentation, and data measurements. ASPERA3_FLIGHT_PERF.PDF - Provides additional ASPERA-3 information concerning pre-flight testing and flight performance. Geometry Documents ASPERA3_SENSOR_FRAMES.PDF - Provides sensor numbering and frames information for each of the ASPERA-3 sensors. ASPERA3_SENSOR_GEOMETRY.TXT - Provides ASPERA-3 frames and geometry information. The information in this text document was taken from the Mars Express Frames Kernel (FK) and the ASPERA-3 Instrument Kernel (IK). A code example (in C and FORTRAN) is provided (at the bottom) to determine view directions of each of the ASPERA-3 sensors. Calibration Documents NPI_CALIBRATION_REPORT.PDF - Provides calibration information and report for the Neutral Particle Imager (NPI) instrument. 2. Online Deliveries and Data Releases ============================================================================== The ASPERA-3 data files and labels are organized onto logical archive e-volumes (electronic volumes). A single ASPERA-3 data set (e.g., ELS EDR, NPI EDR/RDR, etc.) for a specified time interval is organized as a single archive e-volume. The PSA release object/mechanism is used for archive e-volume generation and submission. This means that each logical e-volume is a data release since they are for specific time periods. In other words, a logical archive e-volume is identical to a data set release. The collection of data set releases comprises the entire data set (all data for the whole mission). Once the data and files are generated and organized for a data release, the archive e-volume (or data set release) is ready for validation. The PSA Volume Validation (PVV) software tool is used to ensure all files are present and conform to PSA/PDS standards and to deliver the e-volume to PSA/PDS. 3. File Formats ============================================================================== The PDS Spreadsheet object is used for the ASPERA-3 data (CSV - Comma Separated Values), and the data are in ASCII form. Please note that although the data formats in the CSV files provide for as much accuracy as possible, this does not mean the instruments (ELS, IMA, NPD, & NPI) are capable of this much accuracy. However, it is necessary to have the data accuracy for calibrated data products. 4. Applicable Software ============================================================================== The CSV format is fairly common and can be loadable into Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software. However, Microsoft Excel is limited to 65,536 rows, and most of ASPERA-3 CSV files contain more than 65,536 rows so Microsoft Excel will truncate them. Since the ASPERA-3 CSV files are in ASCII format, it is recommended to use a text editor to read and format the data for input to other tools. 5. Whom to Contact for Information ============================================================================== MEX Project Scientist: A. Chicarro email: achicarr@rssd.esa.int phone: (31) 71 565 3613 fax: (31) 71 565 4697 smail: Postbus 290, 2200 AG Noordwijk, NL MEX Archive Manager: J.J. Zender e-mail: jzender@rssd.esa.int phone: (31) 71 565 4919 fax: (31) 71 565 4697 smail: Postbus 290, 2200 AG Noordwijk, NL For any PSA related issues: PSA Helpdesk: psahelp@rssd.esa.int ASPERA-3 PI: Prof. Rickard Lundin Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Kiruna, Sweden email: rickard@irf.se Co-PI: Dr. Stas Barabash Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Kiruna, Sweden email: stas@irf.se Data Manager: Mr. Leif Kalla Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Kiruna, Sweden email: leif@irf.se Archive Manager: Ms. Sandee Jeffers Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX email: sjeffers@swri.org NASA PDS Archivist: Mr. Steve Joy UCLA-IGPP Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1567 email: sjoy@igpp.ucla.edu 6. Cognizant Persons ============================================================================== PSA: Mr. Joe Zender, ESA Planetary Science Archive Manager ESA Space and Technology Center (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Holland PSA: Dr. Dave Heather, Mars Express Archive Scientist ESA Space and Technology Center (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Holland PDS-PPI: Mr. Steve Joy University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA)