juliensimon/nasa-maven-kp-insitu

NASA MAVEN Key Parameters (In-Situ)

Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Part of the Solar System Datasets and Planetary Science Datasets collections on Hugging Face.

MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) is a NASA Mars orbiter that has been studying the Martian upper atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind since September 2014. The mission investigates how Mars lost its early atmosphere and water to space — a process driven by solar wind stripping in the absence of a global magnetic field. MAVEN's key parameter (KP) dataset provides time-series measurements from multiple instruments at 4-8 second cadence: solar wind density, velocity, and temperature (SWIA/SWEA), magnetic field components (MAG), ion composition and energy spectra (STATIC), solar energetic particles (SEP), neutral gas composition (NGIMS), and electron density/temperature (LPW). Combined with spacecraft ephemeris (altitude, latitude, longitude, solar zenith angle), this dataset enables studies of atmospheric escape rates, ionospheric variability, and solar wind-magnetosphere coupling at Mars across a full solar cycle.

Dataset description

Data spans 2014-03-21 to 2025-08-14, split into 7 instrument configs:

Instrument	Description	Rows	Columns
LPW	Langmuir Probe and Waves — electron density, temperature, EUV irradiance	42,924,326	7
SWEA	Solar Wind Electron Analyzer — electron energy spectra and pitch angle distributions	43,325,341	18
SWIA	Solar Wind Ion Analyzer — solar wind proton density, velocity, temperature	43,921,855	13
STATIC	Suprathermal and Thermal Ion Composition — ion mass/charge composition and energy spectra	42,620,078	27
SEP	Solar Energetic Particle — high-energy particle fluxes from solar events	44,972,027	29
MAG	Magnetometer — magnetic field vector components (MSO and GEO frames)	42,814,937	8
SPICE	Spacecraft ephemeris — position, attitude, altitude, solar zenith angle, orbit metadata	45,051,039	49

Each config shares the same time column, enabling cross-instrument joins. Per-instrument splitting reduces download size — load only the instruments you need.

Quick stats

• 45,051,039 SPICE records spanning 2014-03-21 to 2025-08-14 (~12 years)
• ~24,203 orbits since Mars orbit insertion (November 2014)
• Altitude range: 159 km (periapsis) to 6,251 km (apoapsis)
• 4-8 second measurement cadence across 7 instrument configs

Schema

Each instrument config shares the time (datetime) column. Quality flags use 0 = bad, 1 = uncertain, 2 = good. Columns present vary by instrument; columns that are >80% null across the full mission are dropped at ingest.

LPW

Column	Type	Description
time	datetime	Measurement timestamp (UTC, ~4-8 second cadence)
lpw_euv_irradiance_0p1_7nm	float	Solar EUV irradiance 0.1–7 nm in W/m²; drives ionospheric photoionization
lpw_euv_irradiance_0p1_7nm_quality	float	Quality flag
lpw_euv_irradiance_17_22nm	float	Solar EUV irradiance 17–22 nm in W/m²
lpw_euv_irradiance_17_22nm_quality	float	Quality flag
lpw_euv_irradiance_lyman_alpha	float	Solar Lyman-alpha irradiance (121.6 nm) in W/m²; dominant UV line, dissociates H₂O
lpw_euv_irradiance_lyman_alpha_quality	float	Quality flag

SWEA

Column	Type	Description
time	datetime	Measurement timestamp (UTC, ~4-8 second cadence)
swea_electron_density	float	Electron number density in cm⁻³ from energy spectra
swea_electron_density_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_electron_temperature	float	Electron temperature in Kelvin
swea_electron_temperature_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_eflux_par_5_100ev	float	Parallel electron energy flux 5–100 eV in eV/(cm²·s·sr·eV)
swea_eflux_par_5_100ev_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_eflux_par_100_500ev	float	Parallel electron energy flux 100–500 eV
swea_eflux_par_100_500ev_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_eflux_par_500_1000ev	float	Parallel electron energy flux 500–1000 eV
swea_eflux_par_500_1000ev_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_eflux_anti_5_100ev	float	Anti-parallel electron energy flux 5–100 eV
swea_eflux_anti_5_100ev_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_eflux_anti_100_500ev	float	Anti-parallel electron energy flux 100–500 eV
swea_eflux_anti_100_500ev_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_eflux_anti_500_1000ev	float	Anti-parallel electron energy flux 500–1000 eV
swea_eflux_anti_500_1000ev_quality	float	Quality flag
swea_spectrum_shape	float	Energy spectrum shape parameter; distinguishes photoelectrons from solar wind electrons

SWIA

Column	Type	Description
time	datetime	Measurement timestamp (UTC, ~4-8 second cadence)
swia_h_density	float	Solar wind proton (H⁺) number density in cm⁻³
swia_h_density_quality	float	Quality flag
swia_h_velocity_mso_x	float	Solar wind proton bulk velocity X-component in km/s (MSO frame, sunward)
swia_h_velocity_mso_x_quality	float	Quality flag
swia_h_velocity_mso_y	float	Solar wind proton bulk velocity Y-component in km/s (MSO frame)
swia_h_velocity_mso_y_quality	float	Quality flag
swia_h_velocity_mso_z	float	Solar wind proton bulk velocity Z-component in km/s (MSO frame, ecliptic normal)
swia_h_velocity_mso_z_quality	float	Quality flag
swia_h_temperature	float	Solar wind proton temperature in Kelvin
swia_h_temperature_quality	float	Quality flag
swia_dynamic_pressure	float	Solar wind dynamic pressure in nPa; ρv² drives magnetospheric compression
swia_dynamic_pressure_quality	float	Quality flag

STATIC

Column	Type	Description
time	datetime	Measurement timestamp (UTC, ~4-8 second cadence)
static_quality_flag	float	Overall STATIC instrument quality flag
static_h_omni_flux	float	H⁺ omni-directional energy flux in eV/(cm²·s·sr·eV)
static_h_energy	float	H⁺ characteristic energy in eV
static_h_energy_quality	float	Quality flag
static_he_omni_flux	float	He²⁺ omni-directional energy flux
static_he_energy	float	He²⁺ characteristic energy in eV
static_he_energy_quality	float	Quality flag
static_o_omni_flux	float	O⁺ omni-directional energy flux
static_o_energy	float	O⁺ characteristic energy in eV
static_o_energy_quality	float	Quality flag
static_o2_omni_flux	float	O₂⁺ omni-directional energy flux
static_o2_energy	float	O₂⁺ characteristic energy in eV
static_o2_energy_quality	float	Quality flag
static_h_dir_mso_x	float	H⁺ beam direction X-component in MSO frame (unit vector)
static_h_dir_mso_y	float	H⁺ beam direction Y-component in MSO frame (unit vector)
static_h_dir_mso_z	float	H⁺ beam direction Z-component in MSO frame (unit vector)
static_h_angular_width	float	H⁺ beam angular width in degrees
static_h_angular_width_quality	float	Quality flag
static_pickup_dir_mso_x	float	Pickup ion beam direction X-component in MSO frame
static_pickup_dir_mso_y	float	Pickup ion beam direction Y-component in MSO frame
static_pickup_dir_mso_z	float	Pickup ion beam direction Z-component in MSO frame
static_pickup_angular_width	float	Pickup ion beam angular width in degrees
static_pickup_angular_width_quality	float	Quality flag
static_h_density	float	H⁺ ion number density in cm⁻³
static_o_density	float	O⁺ ion number density in cm⁻³; dominant ion in Martian ionosphere
static_o2_density	float	O₂⁺ ion number density in cm⁻³

SEP

Column	Type	Description
time	datetime	Measurement timestamp (UTC, ~4-8 second cadence)
sep_ion_fov1f	float	Ion flux from SEP sensor 1, forward-facing in ions/(cm²·s·sr·keV)
sep_ion_fov1f_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_ion_fov1r	float	Ion flux from SEP sensor 1, rear-facing
sep_ion_fov1r_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_ion_fov2f	float	Ion flux from SEP sensor 2, forward-facing
sep_ion_fov2f_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_ion_fov2r	float	Ion flux from SEP sensor 2, rear-facing
sep_ion_fov2r_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_electron_fov1f	float	Electron flux from SEP sensor 1, forward-facing in electrons/(cm²·s·sr·keV)
sep_electron_fov1f_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_electron_fov1r	float	Electron flux from SEP sensor 1, rear-facing
sep_electron_fov1r_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_electron_fov2f	float	Electron flux from SEP sensor 2, forward-facing
sep_electron_fov2f_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_electron_fov2r	float	Electron flux from SEP sensor 2, rear-facing
sep_electron_fov2r_quality	float	Quality flag
sep_look_1f_mso_x	float	SEP sensor 1 forward look-direction X in MSO frame (unit vector)
sep_look_1f_mso_y	float	SEP sensor 1 forward look-direction Y in MSO frame
sep_look_1f_mso_z	float	SEP sensor 1 forward look-direction Z in MSO frame
sep_look_1r_mso_x	float	SEP sensor 1 rear look-direction X in MSO frame
sep_look_1r_mso_y	float	SEP sensor 1 rear look-direction Y in MSO frame
sep_look_1r_mso_z	float	SEP sensor 1 rear look-direction Z in MSO frame
sep_look_2f_mso_x	float	SEP sensor 2 forward look-direction X in MSO frame
sep_look_2f_mso_y	float	SEP sensor 2 forward look-direction Y in MSO frame
sep_look_2f_mso_z	float	SEP sensor 2 forward look-direction Z in MSO frame
sep_look_2r_mso_x	float	SEP sensor 2 rear look-direction X in MSO frame
sep_look_2r_mso_y	float	SEP sensor 2 rear look-direction Y in MSO frame
sep_look_2r_mso_z	float	SEP sensor 2 rear look-direction Z in MSO frame

MAG

Column	Type	Description
time	datetime	Measurement timestamp (UTC, ~4-8 second cadence)
mag_mso_x	float	Magnetic field Bx in Mars-Sun-Orbit (MSO) frame in nT
mag_mso_y	float	Magnetic field By in MSO frame in nT
mag_mso_z	float	Magnetic field Bz in MSO frame in nT (northward positive)
mag_geo_x	float	Magnetic field Bx in Mars geographic frame in nT
mag_geo_y	float	Magnetic field By in Mars geographic frame in nT
mag_geo_z	float	Magnetic field Bz in Mars geographic frame in nT
mag_rms_deviation	float	RMS deviation of

SPICE

Column	Type	Description
time	datetime	Measurement timestamp (UTC, ~4-8 second cadence)
spice_geo_x	float	Spacecraft X position in Mars geographic (GEO) frame in km
spice_geo_y	float	Spacecraft Y position in GEO frame in km
spice_geo_z	float	Spacecraft Z position in GEO frame in km
spice_mso_x	float	Spacecraft X position in Mars-Sun-Orbit (MSO) frame in km (sunward)
spice_mso_y	float	Spacecraft Y position in MSO frame in km
spice_mso_z	float	Spacecraft Z position in MSO frame in km
spice_longitude	float	Sub-spacecraft east longitude on Mars in degrees (0–360°)
spice_latitude	float	Sub-spacecraft latitude on Mars in degrees (−90° to +90°)
spice_solar_zenith_angle	float	Solar zenith angle at sub-spacecraft point in degrees
spice_local_time	float	Mars local solar time at sub-spacecraft point in hours (0–24)
spice_altitude	float	Spacecraft altitude above Mars areoid in km; periapsis ~155 km, apoapsis ~6300 km
spice_sc_att_geo_x	float	Spacecraft attitude (boresight) X-component in GEO frame
spice_sc_att_geo_y	float	Spacecraft attitude Y-component in GEO frame
spice_sc_att_geo_z	float	Spacecraft attitude Z-component in GEO frame
spice_sc_att_mso_x	float	Spacecraft attitude X-component in MSO frame
spice_sc_att_mso_y	float	Spacecraft attitude Y-component in MSO frame
spice_sc_att_mso_z	float	Spacecraft attitude Z-component in MSO frame
spice_app_geo_x	float	Articulated Payload Platform (APP) direction X in GEO frame
spice_app_geo_y	float	APP direction Y in GEO frame
spice_app_geo_z	float	APP direction Z in GEO frame
spice_app_mso_x	float	APP direction X in MSO frame
spice_app_mso_y	float	APP direction Y in MSO frame
spice_app_mso_z	float	APP direction Z in MSO frame
spice_orbit_number	float	Orbit number since Mars orbit insertion (November 2014)
spice_mars_season_ls	float	Mars solar longitude Ls in degrees (0° = northern spring equinox)
spice_mars_sun_distance_au	float	Mars–Sun distance in AU; modulates solar irradiance and solar wind density at Mars
spice_subsolar_longitude	float	Sub-solar longitude on Mars in degrees
spice_subsolar_latitude	float	Sub-solar latitude on Mars in degrees
spice_submars_sun_longitude	float	Sub-Mars longitude on the Sun in degrees
spice_submars_sun_latitude	float	Sub-Mars latitude on the Sun in degrees
spice_rot_mars_r1c1	float	Mars body-fixed→inertial rotation matrix [0,0] (3×3, rows r1–r3, cols c1–c3)
spice_rot_mars_r1c2	float	Rotation matrix [0,1]
spice_rot_mars_r1c3	float	Rotation matrix [0,2]
spice_rot_mars_r2c1	float	Rotation matrix [1,0]
spice_rot_mars_r2c2	float	Rotation matrix [1,1]
spice_rot_mars_r2c3	float	Rotation matrix [1,2]
spice_rot_mars_r3c1	float	Rotation matrix [2,0]
spice_rot_mars_r3c2	float	Rotation matrix [2,1]
spice_rot_mars_r3c3	float	Rotation matrix [2,2]
spice_rot_sc_r1c1	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [0,0]
spice_rot_sc_r1c2	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [0,1]
spice_rot_sc_r1c3	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [0,2]
spice_rot_sc_r2c1	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [1,0]
spice_rot_sc_r2c2	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [1,1]
spice_rot_sc_r2c3	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [1,2]
spice_rot_sc_r3c1	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [2,0]
spice_rot_sc_r3c2	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [2,1]
spice_rot_sc_r3c3	float	Spacecraft attitude rotation matrix [2,2]

Usage

from datasets import load_dataset

# Load a single instrument
ds = load_dataset("juliensimon/nasa-maven-kp-insitu", "mag", split="train")
df_mag = ds.to_pandas()

# Load and join multiple instruments
ds_spice = load_dataset("juliensimon/nasa-maven-kp-insitu", "spice", split="train")
ds_swia = load_dataset("juliensimon/nasa-maven-kp-insitu", "swia", split="train")
df = ds_spice.to_pandas().merge(ds_swia.to_pandas(), on="time")

# Filter by altitude for ionospheric studies (< 500 km)
df_iono = df[df["spice_altitude"] < 500]
print(df_iono.describe())

# Identify solar energetic particle events (elevated flux)
ds_sep = load_dataset("juliensimon/nasa-maven-kp-insitu", "sep", split="train")
df_sep = ds_sep.to_pandas()
sep_events = df_sep[df_sep["sep_ion_fov1f"] > df_sep["sep_ion_fov1f"].quantile(0.99)]
print(f"{len(sep_events)} high-flux SEP intervals detected")

Data source

LASP SDC — NASA MAVEN Science Data Center at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder.

Update schedule

Quarterly via GitHub Actions. LASP publishes KP data with a ~6-8 month lag.

Related datasets

• esa-exomars-tgo-observations — ESA ExoMars TGO observation catalog
• esa-mars-express-observations — ESA Mars Express observation catalog
• meda-weather — Mars surface weather from Perseverance rover
• solar-wind — Real-time solar wind data from L1 monitors

Pipeline

Source code: juliensimon/space-datasets

Support

If you find this dataset useful, please give it a ❤️ on the dataset page and share feedback in the Community tab! Also consider giving a ⭐️ to the space-datasets repo.

Citation

@dataset{maven_kp_insitu,
  author = {Simon, Julien},
  title = {NASA MAVEN Key Parameters (In-Situ)},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Hugging Face},
  url = {https://huggingface.co/datasets/juliensimon/nasa-maven-kp-insitu},
  note = {Based on NASA MAVEN KP data from LASP SDC}
}

License

CC-BY-4.0