NSSDCA ID: PSPG-00732
Availability: At NSSDC, Ready for Offline Distribution (or Staging if Digital)
Time span: 1996-11-07 to 2007-01-28
This data set contains archival raw, partially processed, and ancillary/supporting radio science data from all phases of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) mission in a time-ordered collection. The radio observations were carried out using the MGS spacecraft and Earth-based receiving stations of the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN). The observations were designed to test the spacecraft radio system, the DSN ground system, and MGS operations procedures; to be used in generating high-resolution gravity field models of Mars; and for estimating density and structure of the Mars atmosphere.
There are four phases to the mission covered by the radio science data. The cruise phase data (PDS ID MGS-M-RSS-1-CRU-V1.0) starts after launch and runs to Mars orbit insertion (1996-11-07 to 1997-09-01) and is covered on volumes MORS_0101 to MORS_0156. The orbit insertion phase (MGS-M-RSS-1-MOI-V1.0) runs from 1997-09-02 to 1999-03-09, volumes MORS_0201 to MORS_0359. The mapping phase (MGS-M-RSS-1-MAP-V1.0) covers from 1999-03-09 to 2001-01-31, volumes MORS_0401 to MORS_0584. Finally the extended mission phase (MGS-M-RSS-1-EXT-V1.0) starts at 2001-02-01 and starts at volume MORS_0601. The final volume number has not been determned. Data are organized in approximate chronological order.
The primary data types for these volumes are the DSN Original Data Record (ODR), the Orbit Data File (ODF), and the Archival Tracking Data File (ATDF or TDF). ODR files are stored in the ODR directory; ODFs are stored in the ODF directory. The ATDF is considered backup data to both the ODR and ODF; those files are stored in the TDF directory.
The primary data files are accompanied by a number of ancillary files. There are about two dozen ancillary file types that are organized into directories of their own. These include angular momentum desaturation files (AMD directory), spacecraft engineering data in channelized form (ECH directory), light-time files (LIT directory), ephemerides (SPK directory), and others. Each of these files appears only once in the volume set; users should consult the tables of contents in the INDEX directory for file locations.
All data files on the disc are accompanied by detached PDS labels, which describe their contents. PDS text objects have attached labels.
Questions and comments about this data collection can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Richard A. Simpson | General Contact | Stanford University | rsimpson@magellan.stanford.edu |