[starseeker]

This is cool, but (as usual with the Smithsonian) they claim copyright and/or commercial usage restrictions on the downloadable data. I wish they wouldn't do that...

[whoopdedo]

Shouldn't the copyright be owned by NASA though, which is required to release everything freely.

[whoopdedo]

Nevermind. This was created entirely by the Smithsonian.

[01Michael10]

Why would anyone want commercial usage of their work without payment?

[protomyth]

Isn't the Simthsonian a government entity?

[01Michael10]

It's a trust administered by the federal government but 1/3 of their funding is not by the government and not all their employees are federal workers.

The ORNL is funded by taxpayer money (80%) but they license technology they develop to companies even exclusively so it's seems the Smithsonian should be able to copyright their work.

[Retric]

I agree on the facts, but disagree on what they imply.