# Space Physics Data Facility

> organization

**Wikidata**: [Q100956285](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100956285)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/space-physics-data-facility

## Summary
The Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) is a research institute operated by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, specializing in the collection, analysis, and distribution of space physics data. It serves as a key resource for scientists studying solar-terrestrial interactions, space weather, and heliophysics.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Research institute focused on space physics data
- **Parent Organization**: Goddard Space Flight Center
- **Country**: United States
- **Website**: [https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/](https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/)
- **Short Name**: SPDF
- **Headquarters**: Goddard, Maryland (affiliated with Goddard Space Flight Center)
- **ROR ID**: 00ryjtt64
- **GRID ID**: grid.508829.e

## FAQs
### Q: What does the Space Physics Data Facility do?
A: The SPDF collects, archives, and distributes data related to space physics, including solar wind, geomagnetic storms, and other heliophysics phenomena. It supports research in space weather and solar-terrestrial interactions.

### Q: Who operates the Space Physics Data Facility?
A: The SPDF is operated by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, a major research and development center for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

### Q: How can researchers access data from the SPDF?
A: Researchers can access data through the SPDF's website, which provides tools and archives for downloading and analyzing space physics data.

### Q: What types of data does the SPDF handle?
A: The SPDF handles data related to solar wind, geomagnetic storms, auroras, and other phenomena in the heliosphere, supporting studies in space weather and planetary science.

## Why It Matters
The Space Physics Data Facility plays a critical role in advancing our understanding of space weather and solar-terrestrial interactions. By providing a centralized repository for space physics data, the SPDF enables researchers to study phenomena such as geomagnetic storms, solar wind, and auroras. This data is essential for developing models of space weather, which can impact satellite operations, power grids, and communication systems on Earth. The SPDF’s work supports NASA’s mission to explore the solar system and understand the Sun’s influence on space and Earth. By making high-quality data accessible, it fosters collaboration among scientists and contributes to the broader field of heliophysics.

## Notable For
- **Centralized Data Repository**: The SPDF serves as a key resource for space physics data, supporting research in solar-terrestrial interactions.
- **Support for Space Weather Research**: It provides tools and data for studying geomagnetic storms and other space weather phenomena.
- **Affiliation with NASA Goddard**: As part of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, it benefits from the agency’s extensive research capabilities.
- **Publicly Accessible Data**: The SPDF makes its data available to researchers and the public, promoting transparency and collaboration.
- **Focus on Heliophysics**: It specializes in data related to the Sun-Earth system, contributing to our understanding of solar activity and its effects on Earth.

## Body
### Overview
The Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) is a research institute operated by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. It specializes in the collection, analysis, and distribution of space physics data, including solar wind, geomagnetic storms, and other heliophysics phenomena. The SPDF serves as a critical resource for scientists studying space weather and solar-terrestrial interactions.

### Operations
The SPDF is headquartered at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. It operates under the umbrella of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, leveraging the agency’s expertise in space research. The facility is known by its short name, SPDF, and is identified by its ROR ID (00ryjtt64) and GRID ID (grid.508829.e).

### Data and Research
The SPDF’s primary function is to archive and distribute data related to space physics. This includes data from missions such as the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE). Researchers can access this data through the SPDF’s website, which provides tools for downloading and analyzing the information.

### Significance
The SPDF plays a crucial role in advancing space weather research. By providing a centralized repository for space physics data, it enables scientists to study phenomena such as geomagnetic storms and solar wind. This data is essential for developing models of space weather, which can impact satellite operations, power grids, and communication systems on Earth.

### Collaboration
The SPDF collaborates with other research institutions and NASA missions to ensure the accuracy and accessibility of its data. Its work supports NASA’s broader mission to explore the solar system and understand the Sun’s influence on space and Earth. By making high-quality data available, the SPDF fosters collaboration among scientists and contributes to the field of heliophysics.

## References

1. GRID release 2020-10-06
2. [Source](https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/about_spdf.html)
3. GRID
4. ROR Data Dump 6.0 (October 2020)