Skip Navigation: Avoid going through Home page links and jump straight to content
NASA Logo    + View the NASA Portal  
NAIF

Rules Regarding Use of SPICE


IMPORTANT ! Please read in its entirety this list of rules regarding use of SPICE components. If you have any questions about these rules please contact the NAIF Manager before embarking on use of SPICE.

Only a Recommendation
While SPICE is widely used, its use is not a requirement of NASA's Planetary Science Division, NASA's Planetary Data System, or the International Planetary Data Alliance.

Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement of use of SPICE or NAIF/PDS resources in publications, tools and findings is encouraged; such community support will help ensure NASA will continue to fund the maintenance and further development of the SPICE system.

Reference
Acton, C.H.; "Ancillary Data Services of NASA's Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility;" Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 65-70, 1996.

Getting Help from NAIF
NAIF is limited in the amount of help that may be offered with regard to SPICE. Prospective users of SPICE, including flight projects, proposers to NASA AOs, technology endeavors, and individual users, should carefully consider these limitations. Read the information on Support from NAIF available from this website.

Export
SPICE software has been designated "Technology and Software Publicly Available" (TSPA) for export control purposes. As a result the export of SPICE software and related documentation is not restricted, and is independent of and not limited by export agreements for specific flight projects.

However, anyone outside of the NAIF Group who produces a derived product incorporating SPICE software must obtain her/his own export designation.

It is the finding of NASA's export control official that none of the SPICE system data, software, training or consultation are used for or useful in the design, fabrication, or operations of spacecraft systems or instruments, and thus publication or provision is not restricted under ITAR.

To the extent that any SPICE information would take the form of software source code or non public technical data that is beyond the scope and nature of the scientific and performance information contained in the SPICE description provided to NASA, ITAR restrictions could apply.

Publication or provision of project-specific SPICE data could be restricted under a flight project's own programmatic rules unrelated to ITAR regulations.

Clearance for Distribution
JPL Document Review has issued Clearance CL#05-2438 for the distribution of SPICE products via the NAIF server.

Obtaining the SPICE Toolkit
To meet NASA/JPL requirements and to better ensure getting the correct products, persons wishing a copy of the SPICE Toolkit should obtain it from this web site or from an official NASA flight project distribution. (Also see "Toolkit Redistribution" below.)

Toolkit Redistribution
Simple redistribution of the complete Toolkit, such as from a mirror site, is prohibited without prior clearance from NAIF. However, including the SPICE Toolkit library modules and relevant SPICE Toolkit programs and allied User Guides as part of a package supporting a customer-built SPICE-based tool is entirely appropriate.

Limitation of Supported Environments
NAIF is unable to provide SPICE Toolkits for any environments other than those specifically listed on the "Toolkit" and "Utilities" links, and underlying pages.

Modifications to SPICE Code
To support code portability and to promote user understanding of the algorithms and models used within SPICE, NAIF has chosen to provide customers with well documented source code. NAIF cannot preclude you from modifying this code, but we strongly recommend against doing this. If you do modify any SPICE code NAIF will be unable to provide any customer support. If you do modify SPICE code be sure to clearly note this in the header so future users of the modified code will understand these circumstances.

Kernels Distribution
SPICE kernels placed on the NAIF server may be downloaded and used by anyone, consistent with the other rules found on this web page.

Kernels Redistribution
Redistribution of SPICE kernels distributed by NAIF is permitted as long as they have not been modified. If a kernel distributed by NAIF has been modified in any way, any embedded or otherwise allied attribution of the original kernel producer must be replaced with the name and institution of whomever has made the last modification. Redistribution of kernels distributed by any other entity is subject to the rules on and of that entity.

Creation of SPICE Kernels
All users of SPICE may carefully create SPICE kernels, using appropriate methods (see "Intro to Kernels" in the SPICE tutorials collection). Such self-made kernels should be annotated with appropriate metadata (see "comments" tutorial) and validated before being used by yourself or distributed to others.

Modifications to SPICE Kernels
All users of SPICE may "modify" kernels received from any source, although such modifications must be limited to appropriate actions (see "Intro to Kernels" in the SPICE tutorial collection). Such self-modified kernels should be annotated with appropriate metadata (see "comments" tutorial) and validated before being used by yourself or distributed to others. The file name must also be changed to help avoid confusion.

Commercial Use of SPICE
Use of SPICE components in commercial products is allowed, subject to the substantial restrictions on user support noted under "Getting Help from NAIF" above. No fees or licensing are required. Acknowledgement of the use of NASA's SPICE system is encouraged.

Use of SPICE by Other than NASA Planetary Flight Projects
Decisions to use SPICE by other than NASA planetary projects—including international projects—are up to the responsible agency, with agreement of NASA's Planetary Science Division. In such cases NASA may or may not agree to provide some level of NAIF consultation or participation: the requesting agency and NASA's Planetary Science Division must decide such questions, with concurrence by NAIF.

Termination
NASA, JPL and NAIF reserve the right to terminate support of the SPICE system, or of NAIF support to any project or other entity, at any time.

Questions on Rules ?
If you have any questions about the rules and requests listed above please contact the NAIF Manager or a cognizant NASA official before using SPICE components.

Sponsorship
The SPICE system is implemented and maintained by Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is sponsored by the Planetary Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Mr. William Knopf is the NASA Program Executive in charge.

Disclaimer applicable to all NAIF-provided software
THIS SOFTWARE AND ANY RELATED MATERIALS WERE CREATED BY THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CALTECH) UNDER A U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WITH THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA). THE SOFTWARE IS TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. EXPORT LAWS AND IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" TO THE RECIPIENT WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE OR MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE (AS SET FORTH IN UNITED STATES UCC§2312-§2313) OR FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER, FOR THE SOFTWARE AND RELATED MATERIALS, HOWEVER USED.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CALTECH, ITS JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, OR NASA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES AND/OR COSTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DAMAGE OR INJURY TO PROPERTY AND LOST PROFITS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER CALTECH, JPL, OR NASA BE ADVISED, HAVE REASON TO KNOW, OR, IN FACT, SHALL KNOW OF THE POSSIBILITY.

RECIPIENT BEARS ALL RISK RELATING TO QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE AND ANY RELATED MATERIALS, AND AGREES TO INDEMNIFY CALTECH AND NASA FOR ALL THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS RESULTING FROM THE ACTIONS OF RECIPIENT IN THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE

PDS Menu
FIRST GOV + NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer NASA Home Page Clearance: CL#05-2438
Site Manager: Charles Acton
NASA Official: William Knopf
Webmaster: Ron Baalke
Last Updated:
PDS Atmosp
heres Geos
ciences Imagi
ne PPI Rings 
Small Bodies