A computer program implements the Earth side of the protocol that governs the transfer of data files generated by the Mars Exploration Rovers. It also provides tools for viewing data in these files and integrating data-product files into automated and manual processes. It reconstitutes files from telemetry data packets. Even if only one packet is received, metadata provide enough information to enable this program to identify and use partial data products. This software can generate commands to acknowledge received files and retransmit missed parts of files, or it can feed a manual process to make decisions about retransmission. The software uses an Extensible Markup Language (XML) data dictionary to provide a generic capability for displaying files of basic types, and uses external “plug-in” application programs to provide more sophisticated displays. This program makes data products available with very low latency, and can trigger automated actions when complete or partial products are received. The software is easy to install and use. The only system requirement for installing the software is a Java J2SE 1.4 platform. Several instances of the software can be executed simultaneously on the same machine.
This program was written by Jesse Wright, Kathryn Sturdevant, and David Noble of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free online at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software category.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393-2827. Refer to NPO-42226.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Ground Processing of Data From the Mars Exploration Rovers
(reference NPO-42226) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document outlines the software developed for the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) mission, which is designed to facilitate the transfer and processing of data from Mars to Earth. This software is significant as it represents the first successful mission to transfer files from the Martian surface, with approximately 95% of the data received during surface operations transmitted via file transfer. Most of this data is relayed through orbiters such as Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor.
Key features of the software include its low latency in making products available and its ability to trigger automated actions upon receiving complete or partial data products. It incorporates process management tools that monitor running instances and can automatically restart processes if the connection is lost or the host machine is rebooted. The software is user-friendly, requiring only a Java J2SE 1.4 platform for installation, and can run multiple instances simultaneously on a single machine. Data storage is organized in a simple hierarchical directory structure, with filenames providing insights into the commands that generated the products and their timestamps.
The software is optimized for tactical operations in planetary missions and has a small deployment footprint, making it suitable for both testbed environments and mission operations. It addresses critical needs for mission scientists and engineers, who require timely access to files for scientific analysis and spacecraft health evaluation, respectively. The limited uplink bandwidth for communications with the spacecraft poses challenges for file acknowledgment and retransmission, which the software aims to mitigate.
The development of this software was sponsored by the MER mission, and it builds upon existing libraries such as Apache Jakarta Commons CLI, Apache POI, Apache Log4j, Apache Xerces, and JDOM, which provide functionalities for command line parsing, file writing, logging, and XML parsing. The software has not been disclosed or distributed externally, indicating its proprietary nature.
Overall, this document serves as a technical support package that highlights the innovative software solutions developed for the MER mission, showcasing their importance in advancing our understanding of Mars and enhancing the efficiency of data processing in space exploration.
