Regional Planetary Image Facility - Database for Planetary Exploration

Abstract

The Regional Planetary Image Facility (RPIF) was founded in 1985 in an agreement between the DLR and NASA at the Institute for Optoelectronics, Planetary Remote Sensing Section. It is linked with 15 other RPIF's (United States, Europe and Japan) via data network systems.The RPIF has the task of recording all data so far gained from space missions and groundbased observations of planetary objects in the solar system. They include image data, spectral data and the respective location and position of the probe. These data are necessary for scientific research purposes, but are also available for the general public in documented and catalogued form. The collection comprises image and supplementary data of the following American, Soviet and European space missions: Mariner 9 and 10, Pioneer Venus, Venera 15&16, Magellan, Apollo 15-17, Lunar Orbiter 1-5, Galileo, Clementine (planned), Viking Orbiter 1&2, Viking Lander 1&2, Pioneer 10, Voyager 1&2, Giotto and Hubble Space Telescope. These mission-oriented data include approx. 150.000 images. In addition, there are photos of the earth from the Space Shuttle Program. The data of future space flights will also be made available to the RPIF from NASA sources. These photos area vailable as positives, transparent positives, negatives or on microfilm and microfiche, or also as digital data on optical and magnetic storage media. Planetary maps, mosaics, an extensive slide collection, 16mm films and video complement these original data. Short films, data and information on missions, satellites and astronauts are stored on video discs. In order to use the RPIF with its extensive inventory a working area for browsing and direct examination is available. Access to the data is made possible by means of documentations from NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the NSSDC. Computer-backed catalogs allow data selection according to search/trace terms. Information and data retrieval are free of charge.