Space Passive Hydrogen Maser - Performances, Lifetime Data, and GIOVE-B-Related Telemetries

Marco Belloni, M. Gioia, S. Beretta, F. Droz, P. Mosset, Q. Wang, P. Rochat, A. Resti, P. Waller, and A. Ostillio,

Abstract:	Galileo navigation program development is progressing under the responsibility of the European Space Agency (ESA). GIOVE-B, an experimental satellite, has already been launched and is providing the first results. The development of four In Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites is in progress. Atomic clocks represent the key technology for the success of any satellite navigation system mission, and their development has been continuously supported by ESA. PHM is a Passive Hydrogen Maser used as a master clock on Galileo navigation satellites. In parallel with the in-orbit experimentation of GIOVE-B satellite, a technology project has been initiated to develop and test on the ground four PHM QMs with the aim of highlighting and overcoming possible PHM lifetime limitations, before starting the full production of the navigation satellite constellation. Preliminary results of this ground lifetime testing are already available, along with the complementary data collected from the orbit. This paper gives an overview of PHM performance and telemetry data collected so far. The most relevant telemetries and their lifetime trends are compared and discussed. Long-term frequency stability performance tests have achieved a clock stability at 1 day (including the drift) of 10-15. The consistency among all the telemetry measurements, their aging trends, and the excellent frequency stability provide confidence in the capability of the instrument design of meeting Galileo mission requirements.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 41st Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting November 16 - 19, 2009 Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico
Pages:	493 - 508
Cite this article:	Belloni, Marco, Gioia, M., Beretta, S., Droz, F., Mosset, P., Wang, Q., Rochat, P., Resti, A., Waller, P., Ostillio, A., "Space Passive Hydrogen Maser - Performances, Lifetime Data, and GIOVE-B-Related Telemetries," Proceedings of the 41st Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, November 2009, pp. 493-508.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In