Mapping the future of planetary data

NASA is looking to map the future of planetary data.

The information that the space agency collects from its robotic explorations of the solar system is currently stored as archived data products in the Planetary Data System. In order to maximize the usefulness for researchers, NASA is seeking information to help it develop a roadmap for the data and sample management architecture that supports PDS.

The RFI seeks input and possibly answers to these questions:

What tools, resources, workflows, tutorials and interfaces will future users expect or require?

How can the interaction between the PDS and data providers (missions and individual researchers) be improved in order to make the archiving process seamless and less costly (to both data providers and the PDS)?

What role should the PDS play, relative to other archiving alternatives (including scientific journals), in providing the public access to the data that is the product of NASA’s funded research and the basis of published scientific studies?

What is the highest priority need for integration between PDS data products and data products from NASA’s other data archives?

What role should the PDS play in encouraging the development of higher-order data products and ensuring archive quality is quickly achieved?

Are there identifiable improvements to the current search capabilities of the PDS that would allow researchers improved access to data products and metadata?

All responses must be submitted by Dec. 5.