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Mission Statement

The National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) provides multidiscipline data and information services, including a large digital data archive from past NASA space science missions along with directories, catalogs, and access to widely distributed science data resources. The NSSDC is responsible for the long term archiving and preservation of all space science data. The NSSDC works closely in federation with the other Office of Space Science (OSS) sponsored discipline data centers. This federation is responsible for providing a coherent and coordinated OSS-wide data environment to improve quality, accessibility, and usability of NASA's space data holdings for scientists, educators, and the general public.

The NSSDC supports OSS-wide policies and standards efforts to enhance data interoperability, compatibility, and sharing, including international collaborations. NSSDC provides consultation to OSS missions on guidelines, best practices, and lessons learned for developing Project Data Management Plans. These Plans ensure expedient flow of mission data to archives for broad dissemination to the science community. The NSSDC must participate in the evolution of the OSS data and information infrastructure by infusing advanced technologies and enhanced services and achieving economies and efficiencies of scale as a key element of the OSS data architecture.

(Based on the Space Science Enterprise Management Handbook, p. 6-7, September 4, 2002)

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