Hands-on session on SPICE.

Getting SPICE kernels.

There are two main sources of kernels:

1. ftp://gorilla.estec.esa.int/pub/projects/[mission]/data/spice/kernels
   • [mission] refers to MEX, VEX, Smart-1 or Rosetta, depending on the mission.
   • All the kernel names are in capitals to be PDS compliant.
2. ftp://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/[mission]
   • [mission] refers to ESA and NASA missions.
   • NASA kernels are in small letters.

About kernels file names: the first letter of the extension identifies whether it is binary or text, and the rest the type of kernel. Examples:

• EARTHFIXEDITRF93.TF: text FK.
• de414.bsp: binary spk.
• DE403-MASSES.TPC: text PCK.
• EARTH_000101_071017_070726.BPC: binary PCK.

Kernels you might need.

• You'll need the leapseconds kernel: naif0008.tls.
• de414.bsp: most up to date SPK kernel with ephemeris information about the Solar System bodies.
• The S/C clock and frames kernels for the mission you are working with.
• Some planetary constants kernel.

Getting information about the kernels

• brief.
• ckbrief.
• commnt.

Getting help.

The toolkit comes with a very nice html reference.

Exercices.