PDS

Overview
PDS (Planetary Data System) is a file format used by NASA to store images and associated scientific data.

A PDS document consists of a plain text "label" section, and a binary data section. The sections may be combined into one file (which begins with the label), or stored in two separate files.

Identification
A PDS label consists of multiple lines of ASCII text. The first line begins with the text " ".

Sample files

 * http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/data/messenger/MSGRMDS_1001/DATA/
 * http://atmos.nmsu.edu/PDS/review/Jupiter/AMTN/JUPITER/RAW/

Resources

 * PDS File Format Summary
 * Planetary Data System web site