PDS_VERSION_ID          = PDS3                                                
RECORD_TYPE             = STREAM                                              
                                                                              
OBJECT                  = TEXT                                                
   INTERCHANGE_FORMAT   = ASCII                                               
   PUBLICATION_DATE     = 2000-09-08                                          
   NOTE                 = "E-Kernel Information"                              
END_OBJECT              = TEXT                                                
                                                                              
END                                                                           
                                                                              
General information about SPICE E-kernels                                     
=========================================                                     
                                                                              
   The purpose of the Events (E) -kernel is to store different kinds          
   of the spacecraft and science instrument events related information        
   such as spacecraft and instrument commands, status parameters,             
   records of spacecraft activities, ground events, and so on, and to         
   systemize and provide access to this data in relational data base          
   -like fashion.                                                             
                                                                              
   The means of an access to the EK data are provided via collection          
   of subroutines that are part of the SPICELIB library, the major            
   component of the NAIF Toolkit, or using SPICE system utility program       
   INSPEKT to browse E-kernel contents. The subroutines can be integrated     
   into user application programs while the INSPEKT program can be            
   used to view E-kernel information interactively. The SPICE system          
   toolkit for a number of computer platforms or information regarding        
   how it can be obtained is located in the SOFTWARE subdirectory of          
   the main directory of this dataset.                                        
                                                                              
   To use E-kernels with INSPEKT program, a Leapseconds (LSK) is              
   required.                                                                  
                                                                              
   Refer to the EK.REQ and INSPEKT.UG documents provided with the             
   toolkit or available from the NAIF Node of PDS if SPICE toolkit is         
   not included with this data set to get more information on how to          
   access E-kernel data.                                                      
                                                                              
                                                                              
NEAR E-kernels provided on this volume                                        
=====================================                                         
                                                                              
   The NEAR E-kernels provided on this volume are in the EK subdirectory.     
   All of the E-kernels in this volume represent the shape of Eros.  This     
   representation is often referred to as a 'shape' or 'plate' model.         
   There are two plate models of EROS in this delivery, one at a lower        
   resolution, having only 1566 plates ( eros_n2000129x_v01.bpe ) and another 
   at higher resolution, having 7516 plates ( eros_n2000129_v01.bpe ).        
   These plate E-kernels are specifically designed for use with the SPICE     
   plate library, developed specifically for NEAR.  This library is used to   
   perform geometric calculations related to fields of view, observing        
   geometry, etc. for shape models defined as a plate E-Kernel.  The plate    
   library can be obtained by contacting NAIF.                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
Kernel File Details                                                           
===================                                                           
                                                                              
   The most detailed description of the data in a binary EK file is           
   provided in metadata included inside the comment area of the file.         
   This information can be viewed using utility programs COMMNT and           
   SPACIT included into the NAIF Toolkit.                                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
Contact Information                                                           
===================                                                           
                                                                              
   For NEAR specific information, contact:                                    
                                                                              
       NEAR Science Data Center                                               
       Howard W. Taylor                                                       
       The Johns Hopkins University                                           
       Applied Physics Laboratory                                             
       11100 Johns Hopkins Road                                               
       Laurel MD 20723                                                        
       Email: Howard.Taylor@jhuapl.edu                                        
                                                                              
   For general information about the SPICE system:                            
                                                                              
      Charles H. Acton, Jr,                                                   
      (818)-354-3869,                                                         
      Chuck.Acton@jpl.nasa.gov,                                               
                                                                              
   or                                                                         
                                                                              
      Boris Semenov                                                           
      (818)-354-8136                                                          
      Boris.Semenov@jpl.nasa.gov                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
   address:                                                                   
                                                                              
      Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF)                    
      Jet Propulsion Laboratory                                               
      MS 301-125L                                                             
      4800 Oak Grove Drive                                                    
      Pasadena CA 91109 USA