Ancillary Data
Ancillary data are provided in SPICE format to the scientific community as part of the
PSA extended services. SPICE is an information system, developed and maintained by the
NASA's Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF) Team, the purpose of which is to
provide scientists with the observation geometry information needed to plan scientific
observations and to analyze the data returned from those observations.
SPICE Support
This multi-mission capability of SPICE has been used for more than 20 years now on many NASA
missions. More recently, scientists who work with data from ESA's planetary missions
(Mars Express, Venus Express, Rosetta, Smart-1 and Bepi Colombo) use SPICE to analyse
their data. Learn how to use SPICE
Operational SPICE Kernels
The PSA Team leads the SPICE operations for ESA's planetary missions. It operates software to
convert ESOC ancillary data (orbit, attitude and spacecraft clock correlation data) into the
corresponding SPICE format. In partnership with NAIF, the team also works to produce the other
mission-specific SPICE kernels. All kernels are stored on an anonymous FTP repository accessible
using our web-based browser.
For a more detailed description of each mission SPICE kernels repository, please follow the links
below:
ESOC ancillary data used to produce SPICE kernels (SPK, CK and SCLK) are preserved and accessible from
here.
Archived SPICE Data Sets
The PSA Team creates an official, peer reviewed archive of the ESA missions SPICE
data sets and stores them into the PSA. FTP links to these data sets are provided in the
"Access Kernels" section of this page.
Access kernels
Operational kernels
The SPICE repository contains all the operational kernels for ESA's missions,
organised by kernel type.
Browse Repository
Archived SPICE Data Sets
Resources
Workshops
Training workshops focused on how to use SPICE software and data are occasionally offered
at ESAC. Future workshops will be announced here.
Related Documents
Useful for data producers:
Contact
For any question/suggestion about these pages, or SPICE for the ESA missions in general,
please contact us.
