In order to use the footprints code:

1) At the footprints project root (PATH-TO-PROJECT/FOOTPRINTS), 
set the environment variables: '. env.sh'

2) Go back to the projects directory (/usr/local/soft) 
and set the PY3 python virtual environment: '. PY3/bin/activate'

3) Finally, go to the footprints project and to the 
bin.py directory (PATH-TO-PROJECT/FOOTPRINTS/bin.py) and run the code: 
'python runFootprints.py (XML_mission_file)' (see an example in missions dir)

4) Access to SW/Dst data (input data) by DDClient - DDServer communication 
is forbidden from outside of IRAP. (inet socket connection!!!)