Navigation experiment NAVEX: Measurements and performance of the spaceborne clocks
Abstract
The applicability of the NAVEX space clocks was tested in Spacelab. The rates of the cesium and the rubidium clock, which are part of the spaceborne equipment, were calculated against a ground reference atomic clock at distinct time intervals. This was performed on the ground as well as during the space mission. The rates were derived considering thermal and relativistic effects. The comparison between the rates on the ground and in space show that commercial atomic clocks can be used in space with good results.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- February 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988STIN...9024580H
- Keywords:
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- Atomic Clocks;
- Autonomous Spacecraft Clocks;
- Rates (Per Time);
- Precision;
- Relativistic Effects;
- Spacelab;
- Temperature Effects;
- Instrumentation and Photography