This is the web home for SPICE data for BepiColombo. For information about the mission operations, go to the BepiColombo Science Operations web.

BEPICOLOMBO SPICE KERNELS SET

The ESA SPICE Service (ESS), in collaboration the BepiColombo SGS and the Instrument Teams, produces a SPICE Kernel Dataset (SKD) for the BepiColombo mission. A complete description including naming convention and an index of the contents of the BepiColombo SKD can be found in the description of the BEPICOLOMBO repository.

The BepiColombo SPICE Kernels dataset consists of several SPICE kernels, organised as follows:

The SKD has the following directory structure:

  • root directory (named after the mission: BEPICOLOMBO)
    • kernels
      • ck: Kernels that contain orientation for the spacecraft and some of its structures, (solar arrays, for instance).
      • fk: Kernels that define reference frames needed for the Mission.
      • ik: Kernels for the instruments on board the spacecraft.
      • lsk: Leapseconds kernel.
      • mk: Meta-kernel files (a.k.a "furnsh" files) that provide lists of kernels suitable for a given mission period in the appropiate order.
      • pck: Kernels that define planetary constants.
      • sclk: Spacecraft clock coefficients kernels.
      • spk: Orbit kernels, for the spacecraft and other solar system bodies.
      • dsk: Digital Shape kernels for extended bodies such as the MPO spacecraft
    • misc
      • release notes: Includes the Release Notes of the SKD.
      • cosmo: The SPICE-enchanced configuration for the BepiColombo mission.
      • other: different directories of interest.

OBTAINING THE KERNELS

The complete BepiColombo SPICE Kernel Dataset can be obtained from the ESA SPICE Service FTP or the ESA SPICE Service HTTP.

In order to obtain the latest operational kernels we recommend you to download the kernels listed in the metakernel. 

The latest version of the SKD's operational sub-set -including only the latest kernels listed on the metakernel- can be obtained either via:

The Release notes of the latest version of the BepiColombo kernel collection can be seen here. 

ORIGIN OF THE KERNELS

KERNELS CREATED BY THE ESA SPICE SERVICE

The ESA SPICE Service collaborates with the Instrument Teams to create instrument and frames kernels for BepiColombo:

  • Operational SPK, CK and SCLK kernels generated by the SPICE Operational Pipeline (ADCSng).
  • Preliminary SPK kernels with trajectory of BepiColombo created by Mission Analysis.
  • Preliminary CK kernels with orientation of BepiColombo created by ESA SPICE Service.
  • RSSD frames kernel.
  • The instrument kernels (IK) have been developed by the ESA SPICE Service and the Instrument Teams.
  • The BepiColombo frames kernel has been created by the ESA SPICE Service.

GENERIC KERNELS PROVIDED BY NAIF

NAIF generates kernels that are mission independent. Some of them are used by ESA missions:

  • Binary and text PCK and LSK kernels.
  • Some SPK kernels with ephemeris of the Solar System bodies.
  • SPK kernels for ground stations.
  • Frames kernels for ground stations.

WEBGEOCALC

The WebGeocalc tool (WGC) provides a web-based graphical user interface to many of the observation geometry computations available from the SPICE system. A WGC user can perform SPICE computations without the need to write a program; the user need have only a computer with a standard web browse. 

Access to the WebGeocalc here.

For more information on WeGeocalc go to the NAIF WebGeocalc description.

STAYING TUNED

If you want to receive updates and notifications for SPICE for BepiColombo you might join the SPICE_BC mailing list here.

Notifications from the ESA SPICE Service can also be obtained via twitter.

You can also join the #SPICE channel in the OpenPlanetary Group in Slack. You can access using this link.