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Obtaining Data From the NSSDCA

NSSDCA Planetary Astrophysics Heliophysics Images

Overview

~2 PB
Digital Deep Archive
10,000+
Digital Data Collections
2,000+
Analog Data Collections

NSSDCA supports the space science research community, the education enterprise, and the general public. Further information on NSSDCA's designated community is available.

NSSDCA also maintains a large collection of film products. "Space science" here encompasses astronomy and astrophysics, solar and space plasma physics, and lunar and planetary science.

NSSDCA mainly distributes digital data. Effective 01 January 2007, requests for photos and non-digital data are handled on a case-by-case basis involving the head of NSSDCA. When appropriate, duplication can be initiated if all costs are recovered, including potential digitization of material and posting on FTP.

The Master Catalog provides access to information about all NSSDCA data holdings and is especially useful for those who know the specific spacecraft data they need.
Note: Due to budget cuts, NSSDCA is no longer able to fill some large requests. Neither checks nor money orders are processed until your order has been reviewed and accepted. Credit cards are no longer accepted.

NASA Archives

NASA provides extensive resources for both long-term archiving of space science data through its Permanent Archive (NSSDCA) and more immediate short-term or real-time data access through active archives.

Permanent Archive (NSSDCA)
  • Data ingest
  • Archival storage
  • Data management
  • Preservation planning
  • Cross-system access
Active Archive
  • Data ingest
  • Added-value services
  • User access
  • Data management
  • Cross-system access

As the permanent archive, NSSDCA communicates with the various active archives. Active archives in turn communicate with NSSDCA and the scientists, educators, and others who are end users of the data. In addition, numerous project, mission, and investigator web sites provide access to current data, some of which are not yet available through an active archive.

Active Archives Within NASA's Science Mission Directorate

The Planetary Data System

PDS — NASA's primary repository for planetary science data

Space Physics Data Facility

SPDF — Heliospheric and magnetospheric data access and services

Astrophysics Data Centers

Consortium of NASA astrophysics archive and service centers

In addition to the principal NASA archives and various project, mission, and PI data sources, new information technologies are enabling higher-level access across heterogeneous data sources and systems. These new data venues are called virtual observatories or data grids:

Virtual Solar Observatory

Serves the solar physics community

Virtual Astronomical Observatory

Serves the astrophysics community

SPASE Initiatives

Space Physics Archive Search and Extract (SPASE) data model and dictionary activities currently include sample SPASE descriptions. Data for these collections may be offline but can be acquired through the CRUSO office listed below.

For Further Information

Coordinated Request and User Support Office (CRUSO)

Further questions about data availability and ordering can be directed to the NSSDCA Coordinated Request and User Support Office (CRUSO). CRUSO staff are available to help researchers, educators, and the public access the data they need.