[time-nuts] Using GPS for space-based instrument

[Rob Kimberley]

Both Symmetricom and Frequency Electronics provide specialist space
qualified products. It's not just a case of ruggedisation, but radiation
hardening, g sensitivity which need to be designed in.

Rob Kimberley 

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of michael taylor
Sent: 11 November 2008 00:01
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Using GPS for space-based instrument

On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 5:27 PM, Strauss, Karl F
<karl.f.strauss at jpl.nasa.gov> wrote:
> I've been tasked (or was it I was volunteered?) to do some basic design &
definition work on an ultra-stable master frequency system for a proposed
instrument that is currently planned to be in an Earth-trailing orbit.
Given the first order accuracy requirement of 1 part in 1E-10, my first
thought was to grab the GPS timing signal.

Depending on your application requirements, I wonder if an OCXO (Oven
Controlled Crystal Oscillators) in a ruggedised packaging might be suitable
for your needs. For example one well-known frequency source vendor,
Symmetricom offers a number of OCXO packagings that may be suitable for
satellites.

 
<http://www.symmetricom.com/products/frequency-references/high-reliabilityru
ggedized-frequency-sources/>

Another option would be a Rubidium (Rb) frequency standard.

A lot depends on your "accuracy" definition and requirements. Does it need
to be accurate relative to UTC / UT / TAI? Depending on your application,
dealing with details like leap seconds may not be worth staying in sync with
UTC / GPS. Or do you need a stable local clock (within the SV)? Are you
concerned with accuracy / stability over a short period of time (e.g. 1
second) or a longer period of time (e.g.
1 day / month / etc.)?

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