Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes

Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes
Name	Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes
Caption	Logo of the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes
Formation	01 July 1990
Type	Astronomical data archive
Headquarters	Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
Parent organization	NASA
Website	https://archive.stsci.edu/

Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes is a comprehensive online astronomical data repository operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute and funded by NASA. It serves as the primary public archive for missions like the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, curating observations from over two dozen space-based astronomical instruments. The archive provides scientists and the public with free access to terabytes of calibrated data, supporting research across astrophysics, planetary science, and cosmology.

Overview

The archive functions as a cornerstone of NASA's astrophysics data ecosystem, centralizing data from flagship missions managed by the Space Telescope Science Institute and other NASA centers. It is a key component of the NASA Astrophysics Data System, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility of vital observational records. The repository supports the open science principles championed by agencies like the National Science Foundation and the European Space Agency, facilitating global collaboration. Its infrastructure is designed to handle the immense data volumes from modern observatories, integrating seamlessly with analysis tools like those developed for the James Webb Space Telescope.

History and development

Originally established in 1990 as the Hubble Data Archive, it began operations at the Space Telescope Science Institute to support the flood of data from the newly launched Hubble Space Telescope. A major expansion occurred in the 2000s, transforming it into the Multimission Archive at STScI (MAST) to include data from other missions like the Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the Kepler space telescope. In 2015, it was renamed in honor of former U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, a staunch advocate for science funding from Maryland. This renaming recognized her pivotal role in securing congressional support for projects like the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.

Data holdings and instruments

The archive's core holdings originate from NASA's Great Observatories, including the entire legacy dataset from the Hubble Space Telescope and early releases from the James Webb Space Telescope. It also archives data from other significant missions such as the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, and the retired Spitzer Space Telescope. The collection encompasses observations from ultraviolet missions like the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and optical surveys from the Pan-STARRS telescopes. Data products range from raw engineering telemetry to fully calibrated science-ready files, processed using pipelines developed at the Space Telescope Science Institute and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Access and user interface

Data access is provided through a web-based portal and application programming interfaces that comply with standards set by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance. Users can search for observations using criteria like target name, coordinates, or mission-specific parameters such as those from the Kepler space telescope. The interface integrates with analysis platforms like the MAST Portal, Jupyter notebooks, and the MAST API. Tutorials and support are offered by staff at the Space Telescope Science Institute, and the system interoperates with other archives like the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

Scientific impact and notable discoveries

Data from the archive has been fundamental to countless discoveries, including the characterization of atmospheres of exoplanets observed by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. It provided essential light curves for the groundbreaking detection of gravitational wave counterpart GW170817 by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope. Researchers using its holdings have published studies on the expansion rate of the universe measured by the Hubble Space Telescope and the early galaxy formation revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope. The archive's long-term datasets have enabled time-domain astronomy, such as monitoring stellar variability with the Kepler space telescope.

Operations and management

The archive is managed and maintained by the Space Telescope Science Institute under contract with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Funding is provided through NASA's Astrophysics Division, with oversight from the NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.. Operations involve close collaboration with mission teams like those for the James Webb Space Telescope at Northrop Grumman and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The technical infrastructure, including high-performance computing and storage systems, is housed at the institute's facilities in Baltimore. The archive team also participates in international consortia like the International Virtual Observatory Alliance to maintain data standards and interoperability.

Category:Astronomical databases Category:NASA Category:Space Telescope Science Institute