MER SPICE Interface is a software module for use in conjunction with the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission and the SPICE software system of the Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF) at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (SPICE is used to acquire, record, and disseminate engineering, navigational, and other ancillary data describing circumstances under which data were acquired by spaceborne scientific instruments.) Given a Spacecraft Clock value, MER SPICE Interface extracts MER-specific data from SPICE kernels (essentially, raw data files) and calculates values for Planet Day Number, Local Solar Longitude, Local Solar Elevation, Local Solar Azimuth, and Local Solar Time (UTC). MER SPICE Interface was adapted from a subroutine, denoted m98SpiceIF written by Payam Zamani, that was intended to calculate SPICE values for the Mars Polar Lander. The main difference between MER SPICE Interface and m98SpiceIf is that MER SPICE Interface does not explicitly call CHRONOS, a time-conversion program that is part of a library of utility subprograms within SPICE. Instead, MER SPICE Interface mimics some portions of the CHRONOS code, the advantage being that it executes much faster and can efficiently be called from a pipeline of events in a parallel processing environment.
This program was written by Elias Sayfi of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software category. This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393- 3425. Refer to NPO-40314.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
MER SPICE Interface
(reference NPO-40314) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package for the MER SPICE Interface, identified by NASA Tech Briefs NPO-40314, produced by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. It serves as a resource for understanding the SPICE (Spacecraft Planet Instrument C-matrix Events) routines utilized in the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission, with potential applications beyond MER with minor modifications.
The primary focus of the document is on a specific subroutine adapted from the m98SpiceIF, originally developed by Payam Zamani. This subroutine is designed to calculate SPICE values for the MER mission. A notable distinction from the original m98SpiceIF is that this new routine does not utilize the NAIF (Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility) TOOLKIT utility known as CHRONOS. Instead, it mimics certain portions of the CHRONOS code and calls other components from the CHRONOS source, specifically from files located in the naiftoolkit/src/chrnos_c/ directory, such as ls.c and lstmid.c. The document mentions future plans by the SPICE team to integrate the CHRONOS program into a SPICE routine, indicating ongoing development and enhancement of the tools used for space mission analysis.
In addition to the technical details, the document emphasizes the broader context of the information provided. It is part of NASA's Commercial Technology Program, aimed at disseminating aerospace-related developments that have potential technological, scientific, or commercial applications. The document encourages readers to seek further assistance and information from various sources listed in the NASA Tech Briefs, including the NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Program Office.
For those interested in exploring more about the research and technology in this area, the document provides contact details for the NASA STI Help Desk, including a website link, telephone number, fax number, and email address. It also includes a disclaimer stating that the United States Government and its representatives do not assume liability for the use of the information contained in the document, nor do they guarantee that such use will be free from privately owned rights.
Overall, this Technical Support Package serves as a valuable resource for understanding the MER SPICE Interface and its applications in space exploration.
