Review of Mission Archive Plan for RHESSI

June 9, 2008

Bob and Brian,

As part of the Senior Review process you submitted your Mission
Archive Plan (MAP) for review and comment.  As explained in the
Heliophysics (HP) Data Policy, we are encouraging each mission team
to plan for a set of legacy data that will be useful for many years
after the mission ends.  The MAP is intended to provide a chance
to organize and update your project's data management documentation
in light of new algorithms, hardware, software, and an evolving HP
data environment.  Thus, the MAPs were to consider how the mission's
data would work with the emerging HP Virtual Observatories, and
the adoption of SPASE metadata, and improvements to documentation
for the data consumers.

The MAPs were reviewed independently from the science proposals by a
"virtual data panel". The panel members were asked to evaluate the
current state of archival resources for the mission and whether
available documentation would allow researchers to use the data in
the absence of the instrument teams; the soundness of the archival
plan and the quality of the proposed products and documentation;
and the proposed relationship to Virtual Observatories and Resident
Archives.

Following the Data Policy, you should periodically review your MAP
and update it as appropriate.  We will ask to review the updated
plan at the next Heliophysics Senior Review which we anticipate
will be in April 2010.

Below are some specific comments from the review of your MAP.

Thank you,


Chuck Holmes
Aaron Roberts

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

MAP Strengths

The RHESSI archive is in excellent shape, with complete data freely
available to the community, and clear connections to the VSO.

The data are well documented, as are the SolarSoft routines for
using it.

A number of alternative access sites exist.

The "visibility product" would be of great benefit.

MAP Weaknesses

The reliance on IDL for analysis is a potential limitation for the
longer term.

Overall Assessment and Instructions/Recommendations

The RHESSI MAP presents a sound plan for the archiving  and
continuing use of the data, especially if the visibility archive
is completed.  The team should continue to consider the alternatives
to dependence on IDL.

The secondary databases that are briefly outlined look to be of
significant scientific value, and the team should consider possible
NRA support for their development.

Your plan aligns with the HP Data Policy.