What is GGS?
GGS is a multi-mission tool to help planetary scientists visualize the geometric
conditions under which their data were obtained. It allows the user to access
spacecraft geometry information, formatted in the NAIF SPICE kernel and Toolkit
system, to display previously taken data. GGS can also be used to investigate
and design future spacecraft/body opportunities and observations. Any mission
whose spacecraft configuration can be represented by a) scan-platform mounted
all-axis stabilized, b) body mounted all-axis, or c) body mounted spinning,
could use GGS, especially those currently supported with SPICE kernel
generation.
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Who's behind the GGS project?
Software development was completed at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and
Space Physics ( LASP ) as part of the Applied Information Systems Research
Program (AISRP) under NASA's Information Systems Research and Technology
Program (ISRTP).
Who's funding the project?
AISRP (see above) funded the development. The Galileo Mission currently
maintains the Galileo version of GGS
How can I contact them?
You may contact GGS by...
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On what platforms can GGS run?
Versions of GGS exist for the following platforms:
- VAX VMS
- Sun SPARCstations (Sun O/S 4.1.3, Solaris 2.4)
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What other software do I need to use GGS?
IDL version 3.6 or above
Research Systems, Inc.
Boulder, CO. 80303
Phone: (303) 786-9900
Fax: (303) 786-9909
Web Site: www.rsinc.com
OPERATING SYSTEMS:
- GGS will run on any compatible operating system that supports IDL 3.6 or above.
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What hardware do I need to use GGS?
GENERAL:
One of the following:
- SUN SparcStation (any model)
- VAX Workstation (any model)
MEMORY:
- Minimum recommended: 16Mb
DISK STORAGE:
- Source code: 8-10 Mb depending on the platform
- Data: Varies ( Minimum 20 Mb )
PROCESSOR:
DISPLAY:
- 8-bit color on all workstation platforms
PERIPHERALS:
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What input data formats does GGS understand?
GGS accepts input data in the NAIF SPICE format, as well as
ASCII files and digital rastor images.
What sorts of data will GGS produce for me?
VISUALIZATION:
GGS allows for interactive visualization of spacecraft and
system information.
KERNELS:
GGS can produce the following types of kernels:
ANIMATION
GGS offers interactive control as well as postscript output of animated sequences.
GEOMETRY OUTPUT
- Footprints
- Files of time-tagged geometry readable by most programming languages
- Hard copy plots with field of view display listings
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How do I install/configure/modify/use the software?
The following GGS documentation is available:
- Online help
- Internals Guide
- Install readme ASCII file
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Who can I talk to when I really need help?
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Where can I get this software?
You may anonymous ftp from
laspftp.colorado.edu
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What are the licensing/redistribution restrictions?
GGS is public domain software supported by NASA. There are no
licensing restrictions. You are free to modify the software in
any way, but please rename it as it will no longer be the
official GGS.
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What maintenance details should I know about?
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What's the current state of affairs?
GGS is now a fully functional visualization tool. GGGS (Galileo) version 2.6 and
VGGS (Voyager) version 1.0. Considerable internal re-programming has been
completed, as well as the development of new capabilities. The new version
of GGS, 3.0, will require IDL 4.0 or higher and will support any spacecraft
supported by NAIF.
NOTE: The Cassini version has been taken over by the Cassini Mission at
Jet Propulsion Lab. A point of contact is colwell@laspn.colorado.edu or see
the CASPER site.
What's new since version 1.3.5?
- Defaults
- Physical Model Interface
- 3-D Viewing
- Active Color Selection
- Accelerator Keys
- Bundle of Lines of Sight
- EUV Scanning
- Orbit Editing ( Rubberbanding )
- Multiple C Kernel Loading and Overplotting
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- Internals manual
- presentations at AGU, DPS, and AISRP reviews
- Simmons, K., Galileo Uses Geometry Reconstruction Package based on NAIF
Toolkit, Information Systems Newsletter, October, 1991.
- Simmons, K., Geometry/Graphics Software used to view Observations from
Phobos and Galileo Missions, Information Systems Newsletter, October
1992.
- Simmons, K.E., J.E. Colwell, K.D. Benell, Galileo Geometry and Graphics
Software Modified for Cassini Observations, Information Systems Newsletter
, April, 1993.
- Simmons, K.E., Scott Lasica, Brian Pape, A Tool foe Planetary Observations,
Design and Science Analysis Visualization, Science Information Systems Newsletter,
Issue 37, Vol III, 1995.
- Simmons, K.E., S.J. Lasica, B.M. Pape, W.R. Pryor, Improving Science Return
Using Orbit Navigation Analysis Based on Non-Imaging Science Data and the GGS
Visualization Tool, Advances in Space Research, Vol. 19, No. 11, pp. 1719-1722,
1997.
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