High Precision Time Transfer in Space With a Hydrogen Maser on Mir

Edward M. Mattison, Robert F.C. Vessot

Abstract:	An atomic hydrogen maser clock system designed for long term operation in space will be installed on the Russian space station, Mir, in late 1997. The H-maser's frequency stability will be measured using pulsed laser time transfer techniques. Daily time comparisons made with a precision of better than 100 picoseconds will allow an assessment of the long-term stability of the space maser III a level on the order of 1 part in 10^15 or better. Laser pulse arrival times at the spacecraft will be recorded with a resolution of 10 picoseconds relative to the space clock's time scale. Cube corner reflectors will reflect the pulses back to the earth laser station to determine the propagation delay and enable comparison with the earth-based time scale. Data for relativistic and gravitational frequency corrections will be obtained from a GPS receiver.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 27th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting November 29 - 1, 1995 The Doubletree Hotel at Horton Plaza San Diego, California
Pages:	181 - 192
Cite this article:	Mattison, Edward M., Vessot, Robert F.C., "High Precision Time Transfer in Space With a Hydrogen Maser on Mir," Proceedings of the 27th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, San Diego, California, November 1995, pp. 181-192.
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