Access to research records

Public access

The Foundation publishes research briefs, technical standards and reviewed records through the library and mission archives. Releases include source identity, method, uncertainty and links to corrections.

Release categories

• Public publications. Research briefs, institutional policies and technical guidance in the library.
• Reviewed observations. Source records released with instrument and processing information by the responsible program.
• Restricted material. Personal information, safety-sensitive operational details and material requiring an environmental review.

Restrictions and continuity

A restriction identifies the category of material, the reason and the responsible reviewer. It does not justify deleting provenance or silently rewriting a finding. Public summaries state when a relevant part of the record is unavailable.

Using mission media

Edited recordings are representations of the source record. Quiet observation releases use selected, previously recorded and reviewed intervals; they are not live feeds. A release does not establish the current condition of an instrument or location.

The research records directory identifies the responsible office. Access conditions and responsible research teams are identified with each record.