NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive facts for kids

The NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA) is like a huge digital library for all the amazing information NASA collects from space. It keeps data from space missions safe forever. This "space science" includes studying stars (astronomy), how the universe works (astrophysics), the Sun and space plasma, and planets and the Moon.

NSSDCA works with other NASA data centers that share information with scientists and sometimes with the public. It also stores data from space physics missions. You can even find information about some non-NASA missions and special models of Earth's environment here. Before March 2015, it was called the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC).

NSSDCA helps scientists who study space physics and astrophysics. It also has websites that help everyone learn about spacecraft and see cool pictures from space. The NSSDCA also has a database with information about the data it stores. This includes details about the spacecraft and experiments that gathered the space science data. NSSDCA also helps set standards for managing data.

NSSDCA is part of a larger group called the Solar System Exploration Data Services Office (SSEDSO). This office is located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The Heliophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate supports NSSDCA. NSSDCA works with other NASA data systems to provide certain data and services.

How NSSDCA Started and Grew

NSSDCA first began in 1966 at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Back then, it was known as NSSDC. The people who work at NSSDCA are mostly scientists, computer experts, and data technicians. Over the years, the team has had between 15 and 100 people.

In the early days, NSSDCA stored data mainly on special tapes and photos. If you wanted data, they would copy it and mail it to you! But starting in the mid-1980s, NSSDCA began to receive and share more and more data using electronic networks. Today, you can get data from NSSDCA through the internet, using websites or special file transfer methods.

The Master Catalog: A Space Data Search Engine

The NSSDC Master Catalog is a special tool. It helps you find information about the data stored at NSSDCA. It also provides extra details. You can search for information in different ways:

• Spacecraft Search: This lets you look up information about spacecraft. This includes those that orbit Earth, fly short missions, or travel to other planets.
• Experiment Search: You can find details about the scientific experiments that flew on different space missions.
• Data Collection Search: This helps you find specific sets of data that NSSDCA keeps track of. Most of these are stored right there.
• People Search: You can look up contact information for people who worked on missions or submitted data to NSSDCA.
• Publication Search: This helps you find articles and books related to the data NSSDCA stores. It also covers the experiments or missions that collected the data.
• Lunar and Planetary Map Search: You can search for maps of the Moon and other planets that NSSDCA has.
• New Data Search: This shows you data collections that NSSDCA has recently added. These can be new parts of old collections or brand new ones.
• Lunar and Planetary Events Search: This lets you find out about important events. These events are related to exploring the Moon and our Solar System.

See also

In Spanish: NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive para niños

• Planetary Data System
• NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database
• HEASARC
• Astrophysics Data System
• NSSTC