This means making every file directly available via FTP and the Web. This rapid access to the data has been a major factor in enabling large survey projects, where access to a significant fraction of the archive is required. Files are compressed to save space and speed up network transfers.
Electronic retrieval is the main method of data distribution.
Current network bandwidth appears to be adequate to satisfy users' needs. While these were popular give-aways, network access to the archive has made them redundant. Mirror archive sites have been established in Europe and Japan to improve access for astronomers worldwide in exchange for data archives from international missions. During the proprietary period the data files are PGP-encrypted to ensure security and the PI is sent the key to decode their data. The database system has migrated to Sybase, which is better able to keep up with the increasing demand.