Step-by-Step Summary

This section provides a brief step-by-step summary of the process for creating a new archive and for adding another release to an existing archive. Please augment the checklists below with any additional steps needed for your SPICE archive.

Steps for Creating a New Archive

  • identify kinds of kernels to be archived

  • setup work area and collect kernels under it; write scripts for collecting kernels if more than one archive release is expected

  • merge kernels if needed; write merging scripts if more than one archive release is expected

  • verify internal comments and add comments as needed; write scripts for adding comments to kernels if more than one archive release is expected

  • validate final kernels; write validating scripts if more than one archive release is expected

  • add or modify extra files – Meta-kernels, ORBNUM files, etc.

  • Obtain a DOI for the archive

  • if needed, create the release plan for new release

  • write SPICEDS file, using files from an existing SPICE archive as the starting point

  • setup workspace for the new archive

  • install NPB

  • write the NPB configuration file

  • run NPB

  • run validate tool to verify the archive

  • move the files from the final area to the public area

  • notify your archiving authority and/or NAIF

Steps for Adding Data To an Existing Archive

  • identify new kernels to be added to the archive

  • collect kernels under kernel area(s)

  • merge/subset kernels if needed

  • verify internal comments and add comments as needed

  • validate final kernels

  • add or modify extra files – Meta-kernels, ORBNUM files, etc.

  • if needed, create the release plan for new release

  • check and, if needed, update the SPICEDS file

  • check and, if needed, update the NPB configuration file

  • run NPB

  • run validate tool to verify the archive

  • move the files from the final area to the public area

  • notify your archiving authority and/or NAIF