NASA to test new atomic clock

When people think of space technology, many people think of solar panels, propulsion and control systems. An important element of technology in space is a device for precise timing.

Many satellites and space probes require accurate time signals for the proper operation of scientific instruments. In the case of GPS satellites, the precise timing is important, nothing could navigate with reference to the GPS signal lost.

The third technology demonstration by NASA's Deep Space Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the atomic projection clocks. CCHSA team plans to develop a small low atomic weight of mercury ion trap technology and demonstrate it in the room.

What are the benefits a new atomic clock designed to provide NASA and others in low Earth orbit and the rest of our solar system?

Atomic Clock Deep Space flight mission demonstration and validation of an atomic clock, which is 10 times more accurate than current systems. The project will demonstrate the ultra-precision timing in the room and the benefits, said clock.

CCHSA will fly on an Iridium satellite and use GPS signals to indicate the precise determination of the orbit and to confirm the performance of the clock. As already mentioned, the precise timing and navigation essential to the performance of many aspects of space exploration and near-Earth missions.

CCHSA team believes that the demonstration will be improvements and savings for new missions to include:

Increasing amount of data: A factor of 2 to 3 Increasing navigation and radio science data volume by consistent monitoring extend over the entire term of the ground stations.

Improve data quality: up to 10 times more accurate navigation, and science coverage of science focusing on distant celestial bodies in the solar system with one way links radiometric.

Enabling new challenges: evolution towards a more flexible and extensible architecture-way navigation allows the development of the situation in situ systems, satellite navigation and autonomous navigation in deep space radio.

Proposal to reduce mission costs: Reduce costs for missions to use the Deep Space Network (DSN) through the opening and sharing in a way only down time.

Benefits for GPS: Improving the stability of the GPS clock with 100 next time.

An example of use of CASD is for a future mission, is followed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). A spacecraft equipped with CASD could avoid performing the function of two-way communication with the network of NASA's Deep Space for the determination of the orbit.

Allow one of the advantages of avoiding the dependence of two-way communication would be an order requiring the DSN for one-way communication to transmit scientific data back to Earth. Reducing the dependence of two-way communication would be an added advantage of cost savings.