The DTV system standards described in this document are associated with those industrial or professional systems used to produce full motion and full resolution digital video imagery that is suitable for critical closed circuit or broadcast use and which is normally distributed over wide bandwidth communications systems designed for the transmission of television. It is not the intention of the DTVWG or of the Office of the Chief Information Officer to imply or endorse the use of any specific commercial vendor standards, designs or hardware.

For the purposes of this document, the uses for video acquisition, contribution, production and distribution within NASA are considered as falling into one of two broad categories: Engineering and Publication. Engineering video is defined as video imagery that is acquired primarily for the purpose of being used by NASA or other authorized personnel, either in real-time or post-event, to observe, analyze, or document a NASA technical or operational activity. Examples of Engineering video include imagery of space launch and space flight activities, flight vehicle tests, laboratory and facility testing, scientific experiments, and training. Publication video is defined as video imagery that is acquired primarily for the purpose of being integrated into live television segments or edited programs that are created for disseminating information concerning NASA activities within the agency and/or for release to the news media or the public. Examples of these programs include educational or training videos, televised briefings or press conferences, video-file material, live-shots and video coverage of other NASA events. Acquisition for Publication video often strives for high artistic as well as high technical imaging performance. It is also noted that Publication video programs may be produced partially or in their entirety using video imagery originally acquired for Engineering purposes. NASA organizations must carefully determine their requirements and then select and use appropriate equipment and systems which are compliant with this standard for satisfying their particular video imagery needs.

These DTV standards shall apply to all NASA Center systems infrastructure used to acquire, produce and distribute Engineering and Publication video. It is recognized that the specific analysis needs or unique constraints associated with certain flight, test or laboratory imaging could require the use of specialized imagery systems which may not precisely adhere to these DTV standards. If any programs or projects that use specialized systems require NASA Center DTV infrastructure services, they shall be required to convert their non-standard signals or products to meet the NASA DTV infrastructure standards at an interface point.

This document does not, at this time, discuss or provide standards for the implementation of digital video other than regular full motion and full resolution systems or which use other than wide band communications systems designed specifically for standard video transmission. This includes systems used for video surveillance, for very high speed imagery, for teleconferencing video or for the streaming distribution of live video or on-demand video segments to viewers over a computer intranet or the Internet. It is expected that future versions of this or other similar documents will address NASA standards for these other types of digital motion imagery.

Applicability. This standard recommends engineering practices for NASA programs and projects. It may be cited in contracts and program documents as a technical requirement or as a reference for guidance. Adherence to this standard and its provisions is the responsibility of program/project management and the performing organization. It is recognized that some specific circumstances, such as activities jointly pursued with a commercial or international partner, may involve or require the use of DTV equipment which varies from these standards. However, organizations are otherwise obliged to use systems which adhere to the guidance within this document unless there are specific functional or performance requirements of a particular DTV application, project or program which prohibit using these standards. Inquiries regarding exceptions to this standard should be directed to the NASA DTV Program Control Board. Information about requesting an exception is available from the DTV Working Group voting member at each center.