Author :
Maksimovic, I. ; Abgrall, M. ; Clairon, A. ; Griinert, J. ; Laurent, P. ; Lemonde, P. ; Santarelli, G. ; Salomon, C. ; Sirmain, C. ; Picard, F. ; Delaroche, C. ; Grosjean, O. ; Saccoccio, M. ; Chaubet, M. ; Guillier, L. ; Behague, M.
Abstract :
The cold atom space clock PHARAO is under industrial construction since two years. It will be one of the two atomic clocks of the ESA supported ACES mission which will fly on an external pallet of the European module Columbus of the International Space Station. The goal of PHARAO is the study and utilization of a laser cooled cesium clock in microgravity environment. Two models of the clock will be constructed: an engineering model (EM) and a flight model (FM). We present in this paper the current status of the EM. At present, two of the four main sub-systems have been delivered to the French Space Agency CNES: the microwave source and the UGB (On Board Data Processing Unit). The laser source is close to end and an evaluation model of the cesium tube is under tests.
