Using the Deep Space Atomic Clock for Navigation and Science

Routine use of one-way radiometric tracking for deep space navigation and radio science is not possible today because spacecraft frequency and time references that use state-of-the-art ultrastable oscillators introduce errors from their intrinsic drift and instability on timescales past 100 s. The D...

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Published inIEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control Vol. 65; no. 6; pp. 950 - 961
Main Authors Ely, Todd A., Burt, Eric A., Prestage, John D., Seubert, Jill M., Tjoelker, Robert L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States IEEE 01.06.2018
Subjects
Atomic clocks
Clocks
Extraterrestrial measurements
Ions
navigation
Orbits
radio science
radiometrics
Sensitivity
Space vehicles
Temperature measurement
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Summary:Routine use of one-way radiometric tracking for deep space navigation and radio science is not possible today because spacecraft frequency and time references that use state-of-the-art ultrastable oscillators introduce errors from their intrinsic drift and instability on timescales past 100 s. The Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC), currently under development as a NASA Technology Demonstration Mission, is an advanced prototype of a space-flight suitable, mercury-ion atomic clock that can provide an unprecedented frequency and time stability in a space-qualified clock. Indeed, the ground-based results of the DSAC space demonstration unit have already achieved an Allan deviation of 2 × 10 -15 at one day; space performance on this order will enable the use of one-way radiometric signals for deep space navigation and radio science.
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ISSN:0885-3010
1525-8955
DOI:10.1109/TUFFC.2018.2808269