Frequently Asked Questions about NSSDC CD-ROMs

Contents

1: Purpose of this document

2: Basic questions 
   2.1: How can I get a catalog of NASA CD-ROMs?
   2.2: What kind of CD-ROMs are available?  Which missions are they from?
   2.3: How do I order NASA CD-ROM?  
       2.3.1: How much do the CD-ROMs cost?
       2.3.2: How can I pay for them?
    
3: Basic image processing
   3.1: Why do image files have different file extensions? 
  
   3.2: What format are the images in?  What are the header files?  What does 
        the header files contain?
   3.3: Why do the images appear black and white?
   3.4: How can they be made into color images?
   3.5: Why do some of the images have missing lines or dots in them?
   3.6: How can the images be converted to GIF or JPEG format?
 
4: What software do I need to access NASA CD-ROMs? 
   4.1: IMDISP (DOS)
   4.2: Image4PDS (Macintosh)
   4.3: Browser (Macintosh)
   4.4: xv (UNIX)
   4.5: MDIMDISP (VAX/VMS)
   4.6: FITS Table Browser (DOS)
   4.7: Imager (OS/2)
   4.8: PDSWin (Windows)
   4.9: FITSView (Windows)
 
5. What hardware do I need to access NASA CD-ROMs? 
   5.1: Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) VAX or MicroVax running VMS
   5.2: Digital Equipment Corporation VAX or MicroVAX running Ultrix
   5.3: IBM PC running MS-DOS
   5.4: Apple Macintosh
   5.5: Sun Micro (SunOS 4.0x and earlier)
   5.6: Sun Micro (SunOS 4.0.3 and later)
   5.7: Silicon Graphics IRIS
   5.8: IBM RS6000
   5.9: Additional information about CD-ROM hardware and software
 
6: Where can I get more information about these missions?

7: What other sites provide similar data?

8: User Questions
   8.1: What's the difference between the first set of CD-ROMs from Voyager 
        (i.e. 1-12) and the new volumes 13-28?
   8.2: When will the mosaiked images from Clementine be available?

1: Purpose of this document

This FAQ is not related to any Internet news groups.  It only seeks to address 
some of the questions users have had regarding our CD-ROMs.  Please send your 
suggestions, wisdom, and experiences to the Request Coordination Office.  We 
would like to incorporate your contributions to any future update that time may
permit.  This file is available via anonymous FTP 
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/cdrom/cd-rom_faq.txt.

2.1: How can I get a catalog of NASA CD-ROMs?

The document entitled "NSSDC CD-ROM Catalog" lists and describes all of the 
CD-ROMs the NSSDC distributes.  This catalog is available on several media.  
For the hard copy version, please contact

 * Request Coordination Office
 * National Space Science Data Center, CODE 633
 * NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
 * Greenbelt, MD 20771
 * Phone: (301)286-6695
 * Fax:   (301)286-1635
 * Email: request@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov

The URL for the World Wide Web version of the catalog is

 * http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cd-rom/

2.2: What kind of CD-ROMs are available?  Which missions are they from?

Most of the CD-ROMs contain image data.  However, a few contain binary and 
ASCII data that are not images.  The vast majority of the images were acquired 
from different planetary missions.  Below is a brief breakdown the different 
missions.  For a complete list of CD-ROMs available goto 
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cd-rom/

   Mission              CD-ROMs    Observation

 * ARCAD-3                  2      Various near-Earth field and plasma
 * Atmospheric Explorer     1      Unified Abstract files, solar spectra, models
 * CDAW/PROMIS              1      Magnetospheric space physics
 * Clementine              88+i    Moon
 * COBE                     4+     Satellite-based telescope
 * Dynamics Explorer-2      6      Electric and magnetic field data
 * Einstein Observatory    13i     Satellite-based X-ray telescope
 * Galileo                 15+i    Venus, Earth, Moon, Ida, Gaspra, Jupiter and 
                                   its Moons
 * Heliospheric Data        2      Various near-Earth field and plasma
 * Int. Halley Watch       26+i    Halley, Giacobini-Zinner
 * IRAS                    11i     Satellite-based Infrared telescope
 * Magellan                325+i   Venus surface
 * MAGSAT Data              5      Magnetic field and spacecraft position
 * Pioneer Venus Orbiter   79+     Venus, and near-Venus interplanetary space
 * Planetary Images         1      The Solar System
 * Pre-Magellan             1i     Earth, Moon, Venus, Mercury and Mars
 * ROSAT                   9+i     Satellite-based X-ray telescope
 * Selected Astro. Cat.     6+     Various astronomical catalogs
 * Viking 1 & 2            60i     Mars and its moons
 * Voyager 1 & 2           32+i    Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, and their moons
 * Welcome to the Planets   1i     Multimedia educational introduction to planets

(+) More volumes in that set are anticipated.
(i) These sets contain image data.

2.3: How do I order NASA CD-ROMs?

CD-ROMs are available from the National Space Science Data Center, Code 633, 
Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland  20771, U.S.A.  Include check, 
International Money Order, or credit card information with your order.

You may also order CD-ROMs by telephone at (301)286-6695,  by FAX at 
(301)286-1635 or via email at request@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov.

You may also order CD-ROMs on the World Wide Web via a secure server.  All
field names indicated in <b>bold</b> are mandatory input fields.  The form
uses JavaScript to aid in validating information you submit.  Failure to
have JavaScript turned on in your browser or failure to supply mandatory
fields may result in an order processing delay.  You purchase from the online
CD-ROM Catalog using one of four methods: Credit card via the Netscape 
Enterprise Server, credit card via FAX or phone, check or money order, 
and purchase order.

The URL is: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cd-rom/

2.3.1: How much do the CD-ROMs cost?

The cost of a CD-ROM is \$10.00.  The software on floppy is \$5.00 per floppy.  For each foreign order, there is a \$5.00 shipping/handling fee. 
The cost of the CD-Recordable is \$20.00.  For very large orders, the request 
handling fee may be increased to cover the additional postage. Please note that 
prices are subject to change without notice.  For current prices, please call 
(301)286-6695.

2.3.2: How can I pay for them?

Payment may be made using VISA, MasterCard, American Express, check or 
money order.  Please make checks or money orders payable to 
Raytheon in US DOLLARS, on a US BANK.  Please send your requests 
to the address below:

Coordinated Request and User Support Office
National Space Science Data Center
Code 633
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland  20771

Telephone: (301) 286-6695
FAX: (301) 286-1635
E-mail: (Internet) request@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov 

Attention International Requesters

Use the same address as above, except mail your order to the attention of the 
Coordinated Request and User Support Office, World Data Center-A for Rockets 
and Satellites and NOT the National Space Science Data Center.

Please enclose the International Money Order, check, or credit card 
information with the order form.  DO NOT send the check or International Money 
Order under separate cover.  Please DO NOT send cash.

3.1: Why do image files have different file extensions?

 Browse (.IBG)<br>
 Full Resolution (.IMG)<br>

Browse images are subsamples of full resolution images.  Browse images have an 
.IBG file extension and are constructed from taking pixel averages from a 
full-resolution image.  Typically, a full-resolution image (with an .IMG 
file-extension) from Voyager is 800 lines with 800 pixels per line.  The browse 
counterpart of this image is 200 lines with 200 pixels per line.

 Compressed (.IMQ)

In addition to browse and full-resolution images, some sets contain images in a
compressed format.  These compressed files usually have .IMQ extensions.  The 
compressed images are usually 800 X 800 full-resolution images that have been 
compressed using the Huffman encoding method.  The Huffman encoding method is a
common data compression technique that can compress a PDS image file to about 
1/3 its previous size.  The benefit of compressing image data using 
this method is a considerable savings in space.

3.2: What format are the images in?  What are the header files?  What do the 
     header files contain?

 * External Header (.LBL) 
 * Flexible Image Transport System (.FITS) 
 * Compuserve Graphic Interchange Format (.GIF)

Many of our images are in Planetary Data System VICAR format.  
Planetary Data System (PDS) image files are unique in the sense that 
they contain header and other information in a format that can be 
understood by the computer as well as by humans.  The Object 
Description language(ODL) describes the format and content of 
engineering data included with each image.  This unique header was 
constructed so that software could be written that not only can 
display the image but can also provide details about the instrument 
that took the image, the spacecraft clock time, location, camera filter, 
and other useful information.  For some of the PDS files, (e.g., 
Magellan, Galileo) the header information is in separate (.LBL) files.  
Also, some of the discs listed above (IHW, IRAS, ROSAT, Einstein) 
have FITS files.  Finally, some CD-ROM sets (ROSAT, Viking MDIM vol. 
14) have GIF files. 

3.3: Why do the images appear black and white?

Each picture element (pixel) in the two-dimensional image array is represented
by a number in the range 0 to 255, which is proportional to the amount of light 
detected at that point.  The display software used to view the images attributes
to each pixel, a color from a pre-defined color table--usually called a palette 
or a look-up table.  Any arbitrary color can make up the palette.  The most 
common or default palette is one comprised of 256 shades of gray.  Assigning a 
different palette will change the color of the image according to the colors 
in the palette.

3.4: How can they be made into color images?

The imaging instruments used in most missions are equipped with several color 
filters.  Often an area or object will have its images taken through the three 
primary or near-primary color filters.  It is then possible to construct a 
"true" color image of an object by "adding" the three primary color images. 
Please note that none of the software we provide can help you do this.  You will
need professional image-processing tools to do this.

3.5: Why do some of the images have missing lines or dots in them?

Most of our CD-ROM data are in "raw" format.  Therefore, many of the artifacts 
that are present in raw image data have not been removed and are present in the 
images.  The occasional black horizontal scan lines are data gaps, where 
telemetry may have failed when acquiring that image.  Black and white dots are 
often the result of "noise" contaminating the data.  They are most often present
in the Viking Orbiter Image of Mars CD-ROM set.  The noise can be eliminated by
using the noise-reducing filter present in some of the image-viewing software. 
In addition, older missions (Voyager, Viking) have regularly spaced dots which 
are used to detect the presence of any geometric distortions of the image.  
Other artifacts may also be present.

3.6: How can the images be converted to .GIF or .JPEG format?

On UNIX platforms, xv will allow you to save our images in GIF and JPEG format.
For the other platforms (Macintosh, DOS/Windows, OS/2,) you will need to 
purchase a professional image-processing software that can either import a 
"raw" image or allow you to specify the image dimensions for a one-step 
conversion.  Image4PDS (Macintosh) will allow you save our images in TIFF 
format.  There may exist public domain software that will allow you to convert 
from a TIFF to a GIF or JPEG.

4: What software do I need to access NASA CD-ROMs?

NSSDC provides viewing software for several different platforms.  These 
shareware software are provided as on "as-is" basis without any support.  
Questions about the software should be directed to the respective authors. 
All the software listed below are available via anonymous FTP from the site 
below:

 * nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/cdrom/software

4.1: IMDISP(DOS)

System Requirements

CPU:   IBM PC, XT, AT or better
Video: CGA, EGA, VGA, SVGA (Orchid, ATI, Everex, Trident), PGA
RAM:   256 Kb minimum, more strongly recommended, extended/expanded memory 
       supported
Disk:  Hard drive and CD-ROM drive required

This is a command-driven image utility program that allows a wide variety of 
operations.  Software features include display, browse, palette manipulation, 
image filtering, histogram, plotting, multiple image buffers, batch files, 
profile, refresh, set, stretch, and text.  These features support PDS, FITS, 
VICAR, GIF, and raster formats.  Each function has several arguments that 
allow the user to select different parameters.

This software is no longer supported by the NSSDC or PDS.

4.2: Image4PDS(Macintosh)

This is a modified version of the National Institutes of Health software called
Image.  Full operation Image4PDS requires a Mac II (x, cx, ci) with at least 
2 Mb of memory, but 4 Mb or more is recommended for doing animation, for 
simultaneously displaying more than a handful of pictures, or for running under
MultiFinder.  Image4PDS also requires an 8-bit video card capable of displaying 
256 colors or shades of gray.  Image4PDS directly supports or is compatible with
large monitors, flatbed scanners, film recorders, graphics tables, PostScript 
laser printers, phototypesetters, and color printers.  Software features include
standard file and edit menu; area, length, and point measurements; plots and 
histograms; palette selections; flip, rotate, and scale functions; image 
filtering and enhancements; 3D plot, video capture, movie, and animate 
functions; as well as many others.  Please also note that you will need a 
Floating Point Unit (FPU) in order to use Image4PDS.  Users without a 
floating-point coprocessor, or users with PowerMacs, should use the Non-FPU 
version of Image:  ImageNoFPU.

Any questions, comments, or bug reports should be sent to the author, whose 
contact information is given below.

Wayne Rasband
National Institute of Mental Health
E-mail: wayne@helix.nih.gov
Phone : (301)496-0041

4.3: Browser(Macintosh)

This is the second maintenance release of Browser 3.  Since the 930614 
maintenance release there have been many improvements and extensions added.  
Most improvements involve table processing, image processing, and PDS ODL 
handling. 

Browser 3 now requires a 68020 - 68040 Macintosh with a math co-processor, 
system 7.0 or later, and 2 megabytes or more of working RAM space. 

Most scientific data formats are supported:  FITS, HDF, PDS, SAFF, TEXT, VICAR,
and others.  Most conventional data types, images, tables, text, binary, and 
compressed types are also supported.  Support is included for CompuServe GIF 
format, TIFF, PICT, Microsoft Windows BMP files, etc.  Compressed data files 
using Huffman, Huffman first difference, run length encoded, previous pixel, 
or Limpel-Ziv-Welsh are processed correctly. 

Browser 3 works with several basic standardized data types.  These types can 
be converted to one another using menu operations, and the built-in macro 
language can be used to automate processing these data types.  Information on 
the macro language is included in the file "Keyword definitions" on the 
distribution disk.  Each operation and the data types it can process are listed
there.  The basic internal data types are: 

* Integer images with 8, 16, or 32 bits per pixel.  All other integer formats 
  are converted to one of these types. 
* Floating point images with 32 bits per pixel IEEE short data.  All other
  floating point image formats are converted to this type. 
* Color images, both 8 bit indexed palette images and 24 bits per pixel RGB
  with an 8 bit alpha channel packed into a 32bit per pixel record. 
* Generic text records.  When Browser finds a file which is coded in an 
  unusual text format it is automatically converted to the optimum local 
  format for the Macintosh. 
* Tabular data.  Browser converts all two dimensional data with named rows or
  columns to a standard internal table format.  Subtables can be readily
  selected using the mouse in standard Macintosh user interface operations.
  Subtables can be converted to images where that might be appropriate. 
* Thumbnail images.  Thumbnails are square images attached to a table.  This
  format allows automatic catalog generation and user defined processing of
  data sets. 
* Vector data (32 bits per sample, either integer or IEEE short floating point
  format).  This data type is used for spectra, statistics, or other 

Tests have been run to assure that the Browser 3 can access and process the 
data files found on the following CD-ROMs: 

ADC_CAT001                Selected Astronomical Catalogs test disk
ADC_CAT_0011-CAT_0012     Selected Astronomical Catalogs FITS Tables & Text
EO 1-3                    Einstein Observatory IPC-XRAY data
IHW_GZ_0001               Comet Giacobini-Zinner
IHW_HAL_0001-HAL_0024     International Halley Watch
IHW_LSPN_0001             Comet Halley images
IRAS 1-4                  IRAS Sky Survey Atlas
JPL_GO_0002-GO_0006       Galileo REDR disks
JPL_MGNTEST2              Pre-Magellan radar and gravity
JPL_MG_0001-MG_0123       Magellan MIDR image mosaics
JPL_MG_1001               Pre-Magellan radar and gravity
JPL_MG_2001-MG_2019       Magellan ARCDR Altimetry and Radiometry
JPL_MG_3002               Magellan GxDR, Global altimetry and radiometry
PDS_GR_0001-GR_0009       GRSFE disks
PDS_VG_0001-VG_0012       Voyager 1 & 2 images
PDS_VG_1001-VG_1002       Voyager 2 Fields & Particles
PDS_VO_0001               Viking Orbiter 1 & 2 thermal mapper
PDS_VO_1001-VO_1018       Viking 1 Orbiter
PDS_VO_1051-VO_1057       Viking 2 Orbiter
PDS_VO_2001-VO_2014       Viking Orbiter images, color, and .GIF

To assist in using the most popular data sets, Browser includes predefined 
utilities under the sub-menu, "Data Set Specials".  These utilities are given 
as examples of how to use the Browser to access the data on the CDs in more 
useful ways than tediously opening each file and manually interpreting it.  
Examples of the included utilities are: 

* (IHW data sets)  Generate catalogs of various data types.  Allow standard
  processing of subsets of the catalogs created. 
* (TOMS)  Plot the ozone profile over time for any given latitude and 
  longitude.  Another utility allows the world map to be overlaid over the 
  data. 
* (Voyager and Viking image data)  From the index table, select a set of files 
  to receive standard processing, then do the process on them.  Standard 
  processes could be print, view, do statistical analysis, FFT each image in 
  the selected set, etc. 

As new data sets are received, Browser 3 will be re-tested and upgraded as 
necessary to maintain compatibility.  All current registered users will be 
mailed updated versions of the program.  I can now supply the documentation 
files included on the distribution disk as printed manuals for registered 
users when requested.  Browser 3 is a shareware program.  Feel free to 
distribute it, unchanged, on any media, to anyone who might be able to use it. 
If you write any macro utilities others might find useful, please forward a 
copy back to the author for distribution with future Browser releases.  For 
more information about Browser, please contact the author at the address 
below:

Any questions, comments, or bug reports should be sent to the author, whose 
contact information is given below.

Dana Swift
1918 E 36th
Tulsa, OK 74105
USA

4.4: xv (UNIX)

The xv program was written by John Bradley of the University of Pennsylvania.  
xv is a public domain program for displaying images on a Silicon Graphics 
Indigo workstation.  The README.XV file provides information about using the 
program.  The xvdocs.ps file, located in the /unix/sun directory, contains a 
user manual for this program.  The source code for this program is available 
via anonymous FTP from xport.lcs.mit.edu in the directory contrib.

4.5: MDIMDISP (VAX)

This VAX/VMS workstation software is a highly-simplified example program for 
display of MDIM images located on CD-ROM media.  The program is designed to 
demonstrate how to extract image data from an MDIM file and then display the 
data.  The program was developed exclusively for a VAX-station with a GPX 
color display.  See Micro-VMS Workstation Software:  Graphics Programming Guide 
(version  3.0, May 1986) for a description of the graphics routines used in 
this program.  The program assumes there is a standard VAX/VMS software  
interface to the CD-ROM.  Currently, under version 5 of VMS, there is not a 
system interface to the ISO/CD-ROM standard.  However, there is a DEC beta-test 
version CD-ROM interface, "VFS Mount Field Test Tool Kit", that provides access 
to ISO standard disks.

4.6: FITS Table Browser (DOS)

The Astronomical Data Center (ADC) FITS Table Browser (FTB) displays the 
contents of standard Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) table extension 
files on IBM PC/AT/XT-compatible MS-DOS and UNIX-compatible computers.  It was 
written specifically to accompany the ADC CD-ROM, Selected Astronomical 
Catalogs, Vol. I, FITS Table Version (Brotzman & Gessner 1991), but also works 
with FITS tables stored on other direct access media.  FTB allows for 
searching, selectively displaying, extracting, and printing columns from 
standard FITS tables.  This software is available via anonymous FTP from:

* adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/adc/software/browsers/ftb

Any questions, comments, or bug reports should be sent to the author, whose 
contact information is given below.

Lee Brotzman 
Advanced Data Solutions
E-mail:  leb@vicon.net
Phone:   (814)861-5028

4.7: Imager (OS/2)

System Requirements

Software: OS/2 versions 2.1+ or Warp v3
Hardware: OS/2 swap file for paging is recommended atminimum 40Mbytes
RAM:      Recommend 16Mbytes, but will run in any OS/2supported environment
Video:    Video board that supports 'bitblt' operations(Tested boards include 
          ATI Mach series and S3 based), 1280x1024 resolution is best 
          (anything lower than 1024x768 is not recommended for serious work),
          256 color display

IMAGER is a native OS/2 2.x/Warp image viewer that currently enables users to 
view and analyze PDS and VICAR format files.

Imager features support:

 * Images up to 4K x 4K in size.
 * Use of user-supplied palette files (same format as IMDISPpalette files).
 * Standard digital filters (Sobel, Convolution) as well ascapability of 
   interfacing with user-developed filters.
 * Reading, decoding and displaying an 800x800 bitmap in under 5 seconds on 
   a 486-33, while allowing the user to view and run filter operations in 
   alternate threads.
 * Up to 16 images open simultaneously, limited only by user'shardware
 * Standard OS/2 Presentation Manager windows and controls.
 * A quick-browse feature that will automatically display amosaic in the user's
   choice of image sizes.
 * Continuous display of images directly from CD-ROM as fast as the hardware 
   can retrieve and render each image.
 * Capturing file names of interesting images for later viewing.

Support and updates are provided on the OS/2 Shareware BBS at (703)385-4325. 
All updates are free.  The product file name isIMAGVxxx.ZIP, where 'xxx' 
represents the latest revision. Internet access is provided via Telnet at 
bbs.os2bbs.com .  Users may download the latest version of software for a trial 
use before registering.  Suggestions and comments should be sent to the author,
who can be contacted on CompuServe at 70054,2650, by leaving a message on the
OS2Shareware BBS, or at the following address.

Neal Brannon
Event Horizons Software
834 South Carlton Street
Castle Rock, CO  80104
E-mail: nbranno@ibm.net

4.8: PDSWin (Windows)

System Requirements

        IBM PC 386 or better
        4 Mbytes RAM
        Windows 3.1
        256 color VGA display screen

PDSWin is a Windows viewer for NASA Planetary Data System (PDS) image files 
(i.e., browse (.IBG), compressed (.IMQ), and uncompressed (.IMG)).

PDSWin features include

        Auto contrast stretch
        Brightness/contrast control
        Browse buttons
        Context sensitive help
        Copy images to clipboard
        Display file label information
        Drag and drop
        Enhanced brightness/contrast control
        Load color palette
        Multiple windows
        Print
        Save images as .BMPs
        Zoom

Users who would like to receive notification of future upgrades, or who would 
like to make any suggestions, requests, comments, bug reports, etc., please 
contact the author at the following address.

Stephen Green
E-mail: sgreen@well.com

This version of PDSWIN is copyrighted freeware.  As such, it may be freely 
copied and distributed but may not be sold.  PDSWIN may not be given away with 
commercial products without explicit permission from the author.  There is no 
warranty of PDSWIN's suitability for any purpose, nor any acceptance of 
liability, express or implied.

4.9: FITSView (Windows)

System Requirements

        MS Windows 3.1 or later
        4Mbytes RAM (More recommended)
        Screen displaying 256 colors

FITSView allows the user to select and display astronomical images in FITS 
format.

FITSView features include

        Marking positions of interest
        Modyfing the color table
        Obtaining celestial positions (including WCS) and pixe brightness
        Printing the image and writing the image as a bitmap fil (.BMP)
        Zooming and scrolling

This software is distributed free of charge by the National Radio Astronomy 
Observatory (NRAO) which is operated by Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) 
under cooperative agreement with the US National Science Foundation (NSF).  
Only very limited user support of this software is available.  Suggestions and 
comments should be sent to the author at the following address.

Bill Cotton
NRAO
520 Edgemont Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903-2475
Internet:  bcotton@nrao.edu
Phone:   (804)296-0277

This Software is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT 
ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS 
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

5: What hardware do I need to access NASA CD-ROMs?

This summary includes various types of computers that may be used to read NASA 
planetary CD-ROMs.  Engineers at Planetary Data Systems, NASA Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory, have tested these drives using PDS CD-ROM titles.  Anyone 
contemplating purchase of a new CD-ROM drive should check on the following 
capabilities listed below:

 * Seek time of 300 milliseconds or less
 * 64K buffer in the drive or on the controller card
 * Double speed reading (300 Kilobytes per second)
 * Compatibility with CD-ROM XA for multi-media applications
 * Compatibility with PHOTO-CD, especially support for multi-session CDs

5.1: Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) VAX or MicroVax running VMS

 * Drive : Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) RRD42, RRD40 or RRD50
 * Driver: DEC VMS CD-ROM driver V5.5 and up.  For VMS V5.4 or earlier, 
           contact PDS user support for the driver.

An alternative to the DEC driver software is a set of programs written by USGS 
Flagstaff personnel that perform directory operations, display text files, and 
copy text and binary files from a CD-ROM.  The programs may be copied from the 
PDS VAX via SPAN.  The files for handling the USGS Flagstaff CD-ROM interface 
software for a VAX/VMS system are in the directory 

 * JPLPDS::DISK\$USER1:[CDROM.VAX].

  There are three source files:

 * CDROM_UTILITY_SUBROUTINES.COM
 * CDROM_VMS_UTILITY_PROGRAMS.COM
 * CDROM_TAE_UTILITY_PROGRAMS.COM

The programs can be built by executing the CDROM_UTILITY_SUBROUTINES procedure 
followed by either the CDROM_VMS or CDROM_TAE procedure depending on whether 
you want to use the programs under VAX/VMS or under the TAE (Transportable 
Applications Executive) user interface.  For more information, contact Eric 
Eliason at the address below:

Eric Eliason
Planetary Data System Imaging Node
Branch of Astrogeology
U.S. Geological Survey
2255 North Gemini Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
Phone: (602)556-7113
E-mail: eeliason@sirius.wr.usgs.gov

5.2: Digital Equipment Corporation VAX or MicroVAX running Ultrix

 * Drive : DEC RRD42, RRD40, or RRD50
 * Driver: Supplied with Ultrix 3.1

Internet users can obtain a copy of the "cdio" software package via anonymous 
FTP from the space.mit.edu server in the file named src/cdio.shar.

5.3: IBM PC running MS-DOS

 * Drive : Toshiba (v. 2.2.1), Hitachi, Sony, NEC, Pioneer or compatible.
 * Driver: Microsoft MSCDEX version 2.0 or later (2.21 is the latest version).

5.4: Apple Macintosh

 * Drive : Apple CD SC Plus (3.1.1b3), Toshiba (1.4), NEC (2.25), Pioneer
           (DRM600 CLD Access 1.1b1).
 * Driver: Apple CD-ROM driver or vendor specific driver.

5.5: Sun Micro (SunOS 4.0x and earlier)

 * Drive : Delta Microsystems SS-660 (SONY)
 * Driver: Delta Microsystems driver

For questions concerning this driver, contact Denis Down at Delta Microsystems,
at (415)449-6881.

5.6: Sun Micro (SunOS 4.0.3 and later)

 * Drive : Sun Microsystems
 * Driver:SunOS sr.o driver

A patch must be made to SunOS before the Sun driver can access any CD-ROM 
files containing Extended Attribute Records.  A copy of this patch is 
available to Internet users via anonymous FTP from the space.mit.edu server 
in the file named src/SunOS.4.x.CD-ROM.patch.

5.7: Silicon Graphics IRIS

Drive : SGI CD-ROM drive<br>
Driver: SGI CD-ROM driver<br>

A patch must be made to SGIOS before the SGI driver can access any CD-ROM 
files containing Extended Attribute Records.  A copy of this patch is available 
by calling the PDS user support.  This patch is not needed for Version 4.0.5 
and above.

5.8: IBM RS6000

In order to access PDS CD-ROMs, you need to contact IBM user support for the 
driver at 1-800-426-7378.  AIX 3.2 and above will work with PDS CD-ROMs.

5.9: Additional information about CD-ROM hardware and software
For more information, please contact the address below. 

.* Data Distribution Laboratory
.* MS 525-3610
.* Jet Propulsion Laboratory
.* 4800 Oak Grove Drive
.* Pasadena, CA 91109
.* (818) 306-6303
.* E-mail: ddl@stargate.jpl.nasa.gov

6: Where can I get more information about these missions?

High level overviews of these and many more missions are available from  
either of the addresses below.  However, please try the NSSDC Home Page at 
URL http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/ and use the NASA Master Directory and NASA 
Master Catalog for more information.

Via Modem

 * Dial (301)286-9000
 * "CONNECT 1200 (or 2400 or 300)"
 * Enter return a few times
 * "ENTER NUMBER"
 * MD
 * "CALLING 55201 (or 55202)
 * Enter return a few times
 * "USERNAME:" NSSDC
 
 * PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
 * Jet Propulsion Laboratory
 * 4800 Oak Grove Drive
 * Pasadena, CA 91109
 * (818)354-5011

 * PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
 * NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
 * Code 130
 * Greenbelt, MD 20771
 * (301)286-8955

Educators looking for NASA material should contact:

 * NASA Teachers Resource Center
 * NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
 * Code 130.3
 * Greenbelt, MD 20771
 * (301)286-8570

Researchers and others looking for specific mission data should contact the 
address below.  Again, please try NASA Master Directory and NASA Master 
Catalog through the NSSDC Home Page first.

 * Request Coordination Office
 * National Space Science Data Center, CODE 633
 * NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
 * Greenbelt, MD 20771
 * Phone: (301)286-6695
 * Fax: (301)286-1635
 * E-mail: request@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov

7: What other FTP sites provide similar image data?

 * Clementine                          clementine.s1.gov
 * Misc. space images                  explorer.arc.nasa.gov, ames.arc.nasa.gov
 * JPL mission/project, space images   pubinfo.jpl.nasa.gov
 * Hubble Space Telescope              stsci.edu
 * Johnson Space Center                images.jsc.nasa.gov

8.1: What's the difference between the first set of CD-ROMs from Voyager 
     (i.e. 1-12) and the new volumes 13-32?

Vols. 13-25 is a corrected superset of Vols. 6-8. All of the images which were 
on 6-8 will eventually be represented on 13-25, but will have had all possible 
and/or known errors corrected on them.  The Saturn set, Vol. 4-5, are being 
redone in Vols. 26-28n (hopefully to Vol. 35 or so).  The earlier Neptune and 
Uranus subsets of the Voyager set were complete image sets to begin with. A 
corrected version of these may or may not be available, but probably not for 
some time. 

8.2: When will the mosaiked images from Clementine be available? 

Volumes 1-88 of the Clementine CD-ROMs are the raw images.  There is now 
a smaller set, 14 CD-ROM , that are mosiaked images, just like the Mars Digital
Image Models are to the Viking images.  These CD-ROMs are labeled Lunar Digital
Image Model (LDIM).