diff --git a/pylot/core/util/dataprocessing.py b/pylot/core/util/dataprocessing.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f91e2ba2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pylot/core/util/dataprocessing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import os
+import glob
+from obspy import UTCDateTime
+
+def gse_time_header(lines):
+    '''
+    takes a path FILE to a GSE data file and returns the time header of the file
+    :param file: path to GSE data file
+    :type file: str
+    :return: time header from FILE
+    :rtype: str
+
+    >>> gse_time_header('test.gse')
+    "WID2 2005/10/09 20:17:25.000 ATH   SHZ  NSP CM6     9000   50.000000   0.10E+01   1.000    NSP  -1.0  0.0"
+    '''
+
+    return lines[1]
+
+def time_from_header(header):
+    timeline = header.split(' ')
+    time = timeline[1].split('/') + timeline[2].split(':')
+    time = time[:-1] + time[-1].split('.')
+    time[-1] += '000'
+    return [int(t) for t in time]
+
+def check_time(time):
+    try:
+        UTCDateTime(time)
+        return True
+    except ValueError:
+        return False
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