PDS

File Format
Name	PDS
Ontology	Electronic File Formats Graphics PDS
Extension(s)	.img, .lbl, .pds, others

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 "PDS_VERSION_ID".

See also

• VICAR
• FITS

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