Space-system timekeeping in the presence of solar flares

Author

Camparo, J.C. ; Moss, S.C. ; LaLumondiere, S.D.

Author_Institution

Electron. & Photonics Lab., Aerosp. Corp., Los Angeles, CA, USA

Volume

19

Issue

5

fYear

2004

fDate

5/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

3

Lastpage

8

Abstract

It has become increasingly clear that the enhanced space radiation environment associated with solar activity can play havoc with satellite systems. An important special case of this problem concerns precise timekeeping among orbiting communications satellites, where the loss of synchronization can mean the loss of communications. Here, we discuss one satellite system\´s solution to this problem, where radiation-sensitive spacecraft crystal oscillators are "slaved" to radiation-insensitive spacecraft atomic clocks.

Keywords

atomic clocks; crystal oscillators; radiation effects; satellite communication; solar flares; synchronisation; communication loss; communications satellites; radiation-insensitive spacecraft atomic clocks; radiation-sensitive crystal oscillator; satellite system; satellite systems; solar activity; solar flares; space radiation environment; space-system timekeeping; spacecraft crystal oscillator; synchronization loss; Artificial satellites; Atomic clocks; Atomic measurements; Frequency synchronization; Modems; Oscillators; Satellite communication; Solar radiation; Space vehicles; Spread spectrum communication;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8985

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MAES.2004.1301219

Filename

1301219