Facilitating Space Data Archives interoperability through standardization in OAIS and related framework

Abstract

Introduction: Interoperability among space data archives remains a key challenge in the current context of long term digital preservation and effective information exchange. The complexity is intensified when disparate archive systems - belonging to space agencies or partners - adopt different internal data models and im-plementation approaches, also for historical rea-sons, leading to heterogeneous environment that hinder seamless collaboration. Addressing these barriers necessitates a fundamental re-evaluation of approaches to long-term digital preservation, with a particular focus on fostering cross-agency and interdomain collaboration. Such efforts must encompass both OAIS-conformant and non-conformant repositories, ensuring that the principles of interoperability extend beyond established standards to embrace a broader spectrum of archival practices and technological frameworks. The paper presents an experience aimed at supporting standardization within OAISfamily data archiving interoperability, adopting an iterative prototyping approach. Use Case: Through carefully selected use cases relevant to Space Agencies, the prototypes demonstrate in the Iterations how generic adapters and specific adapters - built on OAIS Interoperability Framework core specifications - can facilitate the seamless exchange of information packages between two distinct archive systems: Use Case A: Interoperability from the ESA Space Data Technical Information Preservation Archive (SDTIPA, OAIS conformant) to the ESA Space Data Preservation Archive (SDPA, non-OAIS conformant), for the purpose of receiving dataset metadata required to complete data curation steps and establish provenance linkage. Use Case B: Interoperability from SDTIPA to SDPA to request information regarding archived software versions, software packages for archival, and related metadata. Use Case C: Interoperability from the ESA SDPA (non-OAIS conformant) to the DLR LTA Service (external, non-OAIS conformant) to receive datasets and metadata from ingested mission collections, verify status, identify gaps, and complete data curation steps, including provenance linkage. Use Case D: Interoperability from ESA SDPA to DLR LTA Service to transmit a list of ingested mission collections and request DLR LTA Service to verify the availability of one or more collections, return identifiers of duplicate collections, and enable ESA users to mark collections as removable. Starting from ESA OAIS-IF prototypes, demonstrates the ESA Space Data Preservation Archive (SDPA) Specific Adapter, enabling robust OAIS-IF interoperability. Comprehensive tests substantiate the architectural framework’s capacity for cross-archiveinteroperability, including seamless integration between ESA and DLR (German Aerospace Center) repositories, as well as among ESA Space Data Archives. Conclusion: Key breakthroughs include the practical deployment and validation of OAIS-IF adapters, cross-agency protocols, and targeted adapters that facilitate direct, automated data and metadata exchange. The outcomes underscore the practical benefits and opportunities of such an approach for enhancing standardized interoperability and long-term digital preservation across agencies boundaries. Notably, the project has substantiated the viability of a unified, scalable framework for digital preservation, paving the way for a new era in standardisation and cross-archive collaboration within the scientific and archival communities. References:[1] CCSDS 650.0-M-3 (2024) REFERENCE MODEL FOR AN OPEN ARCHIVAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (OAIS)[2] CCSDS – OAIS Interoperability Framework https://ccsds.org/outreach/overview/daivideos/