The Nasa Planetary Data System

Abstract

The “Planetary Data System” (PDS) was developed and supported by the Solar System Exploration Division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and has now successfully operated for a few years. Its primary objectives are to preserve data obtained from previous, current and future space missions; to help individual scientists in the analysis of planetary data by preparing them in a usable form and making them easily accessible to the community; and to assist the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) managing, archiving and distributing data obtained by NASA missions. The principal goals and general structure of the PDS have been summarized in several brochures issued by the PDS and articles such as e.g., “The Planetary Data System” by S.W. Lee, published in the IUGG U.S. National Report on Planetology 1987-1990 or by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Additional information can be obtained e.g., by the current author; the PDS Project Manager, S. McMahon at JPL; the PDS Project Scientist, S. Lee at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado or from any of the seven Discipline Nodes listed below.