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V. Data System

The KidSat Data System was responsible for acquiring, making accessible, and archiving the KidSat images once they reached the ground. Additionally, the Data System was responsible for providing KidSat students with the image processing and scientific visualization tools to analyze the data. Finally, the Data System was responsible for providing the technical assistance required by the middle schools.

The Data System was developed to take full advantage of existing information systems technologies while being flexible enough to benefit from new technologies as they emerged. The Data System transferred the image data from JSC JPL using the NASA Science Network (NSN), processed the images from their raw 6.4MB format to their full 18MB file and placed the images on-line in one format. This format was easy to view and search by students using computers and Internet connections that were typically found in middle schools, along with tools to analyze the images quantitatively (including NIH Image).In addition, some of the images were manipulated at JPL's Digital Image Animation Lab (DIAL) into a variety of visually interesting products as preparation for future activities in the classrooms.

Additional information provided as part of the Data System consisted of:

• satellite weather maps,
• digital Jet Navigation Chart (JNC) maps,
• data describing the shuttle orientation and location, and
• links to other remote sensing data, especially photographs from other shuttle
missions.

The Data System team was centered int he DIAL at JPL and was supported by the Solar System Visualization Team. The Data System team's goal was to deliver the images to the schools in the most exciting ways that were technically possible while using formats appropriate for school computers. In addition, the team excelled in accommodating requests from teachers and students for improving the system to make more usable in classroom environments. The team was made up of students from La Cañada High school, La Cañada Flintridge Preparatory school, undergraduates from Harvey Mudd Colege, USC, the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, and the University of Nebraska; and engineers from JPL's Cartographic Application Group, Multiple-Image Processing Lab (MIPL), and DIAL. Weather data were obtained from the University of Wisconsin. The Data System team was led by Paul Andres, and engineer at JPL. For more information about the KidSat data system, see Andres et al. 1999.