Government Computer News reports that the source code for the Java Mission-planning and Analysis Remote Sensing (JMars) application that has been used by NASA for Mars exploration is now released under GPL license. The software is a Java-based geospatial information system that was developed by the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University.
The program provides a GIS-style interface for the details gathered by NASA sensors. The program has been used on the Mars Odyssey, Global Surveyor and Reconnaissance Orbiter missions to bring together the different data and view them on a map.
In addition to aggregating multiple data sets, the tool can also be used for mission planning. Using the tool, researchers make requests for imagery of specific areas and the requests are then tasked by mission control.
Visit the JMARS Wiki to download the software and learn how to use it.
