Clocks and Timing in the NASA Deep Space Network

J. Lauf, M. Calhoun, W. Diener, J. Gonzalez, A. Kirk, P. Kuhnle, B. Tucker, C. Kirby, R. Tjoelker

Abstract:	A new timing system has been developed for the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) and is currently in the final stages of integration, testing and implementation in all three DSN sites. The DSN is a distributed antenna network for deep space communication, whose facilities are continuously engaged in spacecraft tracking, Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) or Radio Astronomy activities. Its primary components consist of three Deep Space Communication Centers (DSCC) separated nearly equidistant around the Earth in California, USA; Spain; and Australia. Within each DSCC, synchronized, low jitter timing signals must be distributed to many users over distances of up to 30 kilometers. The design criteria for the timing system required state of the art stability and jitter performance, but also extremely high operability and reliability. This paper describes some of the key features and recent system performance data as measured both in the laboratory and the operational DSN.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 37th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting August 29 - 31, 2005 Vancouver, Canada
Pages:	830 - 835
Cite this article:	Lauf, J., Calhoun, M., Diener, W., Gonzalez, J., Kirk, A., Kuhnle, P., Tucker, B., Kirby, C., Tjoelker, R., "Clocks and Timing in the NASA Deep Space Network," Proceedings of the 37th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Vancouver, Canada, August 2005, pp. 830-835.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In