The '''Planetary Data System''' ('''PDS''') is a distributed data system that [[NASA]] uses to archive data collected by [[Solar System]] orbital, landed and robotic missions and ground-based support data associated with those missions. The PDS is managed by NASA Headquarters' Planetary Sciences Division. The PDS is an active archive that makes available well documented, peer reviewed planetary data to the research community.<ref>{{Cite web|title = PDS: PDS Charter|url = https://pds.nasa.gov/about/pds_charter_12102015.pdf|website = pds.nasa.gov|accessdate = 2017-08-16}}</ref> The archive and data within are held to high quality standards established by the PDS. The PDS is divided into a number of science discipline "nodes" which are individually curated by planetary scientists. The Principal Investigators of the science discipline nodes, along with the leaders of the Technical Support Nodes, the Project Manager, and Deputy Project Manager form the PDS Management Council (MC). The MC serves as the Technical Policy Board of the PDS, and provides findings for NASA with respect to planetary science data management, ensures coordination among the Nodes, guarantees responsiveness to customer needs, and monitors the appropriate uses of evolving information technologies that may make PDS tasks both more efficient and more cost effective.<ref>{{Cite web|title = PDS: PDS Requirements|url = https://pds.nasa.gov/roadmap/pds_level123_requirements_20170420.pdf|website = pds.nasa.gov|accessdate = 2017-08-16}}</ref> The Solar System Exploration Data Services Office at the [[Goddard Space Flight Center]] handles PDS Project Management.<ref>{{Cite web|title = PDS: PDS Organization|url = https://pds.nasa.gov/about/organization.shtml|website = pds.nasa.gov|accessdate = 2015-10-16}}</ref>
NASA and the PDS recently engaged in development of a Roadmap for the period 2017 to 2026. The purpose of the roadmap effort was to outline a strategy for moving forward in planetary data archiving under the auspices of a rapidly growing data volume (nearly 1 petabyte at present), new computing capabilities, tools, and facilities, and a growing community of planetary science investigators.<ref>{{Cite web|title = PDS: PDS Roadmap 2017 to 2026|url = https://pds.nasa.gov/roadmap/PlanetaryDataSystemRMS17-26_20jun17.pdf|website = pds.nasa.gov|accessdate = 2017-08-16}}</ref>
==PDS archiving philosophy==
The main objective of the PDS is to maintain a planetary data archive that will withstand the test of time such that future generations of scientists can access, understand and use preexisting planetary data. The PDS tries to ensure compatibility of the archive by adhering to strict standards of storage media, archiving formats, and required documentation. The PDS
