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Submitting Data to the NSSDCA

Guidelines, requirements, and procedures for archiving space science data with NSSDCA

NSSDCA Planetary Astrophysics Heliophysics Images

Summary

NSSDCA accepts data from two types of customers within NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Active Archives

Space science active archives funded through the Science Mission Directorate that submit data to NSSDCA for long-term preservation.

Science Missions

Missions within the Science Mission Directorate that deliver data directly to NSSDCA under the terms of an MOU or PDMP agreement.

If the submitter is from one of these types, there is usually an agreement — an MOU or PDMP — that constrains the process. Examples of both are available from NSSDCA. If you cannot find your specific agreement, contact the curation scientist staff or the head of NSSDCA.

NSSDCA maintains a staff curation scientist spanning each of the space science disciplines. Each curation scientist is responsible for reviewing incoming collection documentation to ensure independent usability of the data.

Information Required by NSSDCA

The following information is needed by NSSDCA to ingest an incoming collection (numeric data, model, or software). The assigned curation scientist will review this information to ensure sufficient documentation exists for a scientist knowledgeable in the field (but unfamiliar with the specific collection) to make proper use of the data.

  • A descriptive title for the collection
  • A description (one to a few paragraphs) of the collection
  • The applicable MOU or PDMP, if any
  • The archive service level (see Levels of Archival Storage Service)
  • The primary archive if NSSDCA is not acting as such
  • How and when data will be submitted, what size (kB, MB, etc.), and with what frequency (see Data Transfer)
  • Any identifiers for the collection used by the provider
  • Names and locator information (address, email, phone) of the data provider, a general contact (if any), and a transfer contact (person who will send the data if other than the provider)
  • Specification of any spacecraft/observatory and/or experiment(s)/instrument(s) that contributed to the collection
  • Any access restrictions
  • Any related collections, whether already archived at NSSDCA or yet to be submitted
  • People and/or institutions to acknowledge for the data (for example, the Principal Investigator of the experiment, the data provider(s), the flight project, or a data system)

Other information may be requested by the curation scientist as needed.

Levels of Archival Storage Service

The long-term preservation, dissemination, and availability of data to researchers is specified by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the data provider and NSSDCA. Once the provider has determined what is to be transmitted, they must decide what level of archival storage is required. The levels of service provided by NSSDCA are shown in the table below.

Levels of archival storage service provided by NSSDCA
Service Level Description
Permanent Archive Long-term curation of digital data. Data may be repackaged and/or transformed to maintain accessibility and usability. Content information of SIPs is preserved but not necessarily in the original format. AIPs are re-written to new media within ten years. Data not currently in AIPs will eventually be migrated from legacy media. The MOU may specify that data access be restricted, e.g., proprietary data or data available through an active archive.
Backup Storage of digital data to support another archive's contingency plan per MOU. Cognizance of data content and format is not required of NSSDCA. Data may be repackaged and/or reversibly transformed to maintain accessibility. Content information of SIPs is preserved and can be retrieved in the original format. Data access is restricted to the provider or other entities per the MOU.
Analog Archive Preservation of analog data on a variety of media with external review to establish priorities for digitization. Selected retention of original analog data after digitization. Data are copied and disseminated by NSSDCA.

NSSDCA accepts responsibility for preservation once it has been verified that the data objects received match the provider's description of the objects submitted.

Data Formats

NSSDCA ingest supports a variety of data formats. Many formats can be packaged (encapsulated) with NSSDCA AIPs to streamline the process and ensure data integrity on the provider end. Examples are:

  • FITS — Flexible Image Transport System
  • CDF — Common Data Format
  • PDS — Planetary Data System
  • HDF — Hierarchical Data Format
  • IDFS — Instrument Data File Set
  • ASCII with format description
  • Binary with format description

Data Transfer

Data providers need to decide on how their data will be transferred to the NSSDCA. The NSSDCA can receive data as files transferred on:

  • Tape LTO 5 and 6; 4 mm and 8 mm tape formats
  • Optical CD-ROM / DVD (DVD-5, DVD-9)
  • Disk Hard disc / RAID system (SCSI preferred)
  • Network Electronic transfer over the internet

A number of native tape formats are supported. Archive tapes are currently LTO8 (storage capacity of 12 TB uncompressed and a compressed capacity of up to 30 TB). Two copies are written; one for the local jukebox and one for off-site climate-controlled storage.

Questions About Submitting Data?

Contact the NSSDCA Coordinated Request and User Support Office (CRUSO) for assistance with data submission, agreements, and archival planning.