PDS_VERSION_ID = PDS3 RECORD_TYPE = STREAM INSTRUMENT_HOST_NAME = "MARS EXPRESS" INSTRUMENT_HOST_ID = "MEX" MISSION_NAME = "MARS EXPRESS" OBJECT = TEXT PUBLICATION_DATE = 2007-02-28 NOTE = "AAREADME.TXT describes the MEX MARSIS AIS data archive for the Planetary Science Archive, PSA and the Planetary Data Archive, PDS." END_OBJECT = TEXT END Mars Express Active Ionospheric Sounder (AIS) Volume MEX-M-MARSIS-3-RDR-AIS * Introduction * Volume Overview - Quick Start Guide * Volume Contents and Structure * Data File Format * Disclaimer * Acknowledgments ======================================================================== Introduction ======================================================================== This volume set contains the Mars Express Active Ionospheric Sounder (AIS) standard data products for the entire mission. AIS is a component of the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) instrument. The scientific objectives of AIS are the mapping and study of the ionosphere around Mars, as well as its solar interactions. ======================================================================== Volume Overview - Quick Start Guide ======================================================================== All calibrated binary data contained in the MEX AIS volume is viewable in the Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format. The PNGs reside in the BROWSE -> ACTIVE_IONOSPHERIC_SOUNDER subdirectory and are grouped into ten orbit subdirectories; these are overview plots of the entire orbit. [BROWSE] | |-[ACTIVE_IONOSPHERIC_SOUNDER] | |-[RDRxxxX] | |-FRM_AIS_RDR_xxxx.PNG One directory below the spectrogram plots are ionograms for each ionospheric sounding event, grouped into single orbit directories. [BROWSE] | |-[ACTIVE_IONOSPHERIC_SOUNDER] | |-[RDRxxxX] | |-[RDRxxxx] | |-FRM_AIS_RDR_xxxx_nnnn.PNG The overview spectrogram plots are accessable through HTML files located in the EXTRAS directory. The HTML files contain links to the browse products, ie one may "browse" the BROWSE products via HTML. [EXTRAS] | |-[BROWSEALL] |-[ACTIVE_IONOSPHERIC_SOUNDER] | | | |-[RDRxxxX] Thumbnails for the ionograms grouped into | | ten orbit directories. | | | |-BROWSE.HTM HTML file containing the thumbnailed | ionograms for the ten orbits. |-[ANCILLARY] Thumbnails HTML page decoration | |-INDEX.HTM Links to the thumbnailed plots of the Active Ionospheric Sounder data. The data files from which the browse products are produced, are located in the DATA directory and grouped in orbits of ten. [DATA] | |-[ACTIVE_IONOSPHERIC_SOUNDER] | |-[RDRxxxX] | |-FRM_AIS_RDR_xxxx.DAT The binary data format is 4-Byte aligned allowing for simple reading from various computer architectures, ie natural alignment for modern machines. Below is a general overview of the data files, for more detailed information, please consult the format files in the LABEL directory as well as the label files associated with the particular data. BINARY DATA FORMAT +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ record 1 | TIME | INSTRUMENT_STATUS | FREQUENCY | SPECTRAL_DENSITIES | +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ record 2 | TIME | INSTRUMENT_STATUS | FREQUENCY | SPECTRAL_DENSITIES | +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ record 3 | TIME | INSTRUMENT_STATUS | FREQUENCY | SPECTRAL_DENSITIES | +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ * **** ***************** ********* ****************** record n | TIME | INSTRUMENT_STATUS | FREQUENCY | SPECTRAL_DENSITIES | +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Byte 1 49 77 81 401 TIME - The beginning of the sounding event in the following formats SCLK - spacecraft clock with partition flag UTC_DAY - days since 1958 and milliseconds of day; the JPL historical epoch. UTC_ASCII - UTC in human readable ASCII format INSTRUMENT_STATUS - Instrument parameters such as gain settings, and transmit power levels. FREQUENCY - The transmit frequency used for the sounding activity. SPECTRAL_DENSITIES - A time series of 80 samples corresponding to the received power. =========================================================================== Volume Contents and Structure =========================================================================== [MEX-M-MARSIS-3-RDR-AIS-V1.0] (root directory) | |-AAREADME.TXT Plain text describing volume contents, | organization, and its use (this file). | |-ERRATA.TXT Describes known deficiencies or caveats in the | data on this volume. | |-VOLDESC.CAT High level description of volume contents. | |-[BROWSE] Contains browse plots depicting the data. | | | |-[ACTIVE_IONOSPHERIC_SOUNDER] | | | |-[RDRxxxX] Plots of the Active Ionospheric | | Sounder Spectrograms for each | | orbit. | | | |-[RDRxxxx] Plots of each Ionogram in the | orbit xxxx. | | |-[CATALOG] Information about the Mars Express mission, spacecraft, | and Active Ionospheric Sounder (AIS) Instrument; lists | the cognizant personnel and references revelant | documentation. | |-[DATA] Binary archived data from the Active Ionospheric | Sounder instrument. | | | |-[ACTIVE_IONOSPHERIC_SOUNDER] | | | |-[RDRxxxX] Data of the Active Ionospheric | Sounder for each orbit. | |-[DOCUMENT] Instrument papers, Data Management Plans, Electronic | Interface Control Documents, etc. | |-[EXTRAS] Bonus content not necessarily conforming to archiving | standards. Included are HTML files with thumbnails | to navigate the browse products. | |-[INDEX] Volume and cumulative indices of archive products. | |-[LABEL] Format descriptions of the archived data products. ============================================================================== 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 ======================================================================== * Disclaimer All trademarks are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners. The producers and publishers of this archive do not endorse any commercial entities which may be mentioned for clarity. ======================================================================== * Acknowledgments The data was collected under the auspices of the Mars Express project. Donald A. Gurnett was the Active Ionospheric Sounder Principal Investigator. The archiving effor at The University of Iowa was supported by R. Huff, L. Granroth, and R. Johnson. The archiving effort was supported by the Planetary Science Archive and the extraordinary assistance of D. Heather. ========================================================================