The Role of Clocks in Operating Deep Space Missions

S.W. Asmar, E.R. Kursinski

Abstract:	Operation of deep space missions requires stable frequency references and clocks to perform several mission critical functions. These references are used in generating the telecommunication links to maintain communications between earth and spacecraft, in generating accurate doppler, range and VLBI observables for determining the spacecraft's time varying position, and to generate on-board timing information for clocking out timed commands and time tagging instrument data. In addition, science applications exist particularly those utilizing radio instrumentation which can require additional functions and levels of performance. The design necessity to support these functions affects both the spacecraft and the ground tracking stations. This paper provides a brief description of these functions and some of the key requirement needed to support them.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 23th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting December 3 - 5, 1991 Pasadena, California
Pages:	111 - 118
Cite this article:	Asmar, S.W., Kursinski, E.R., "The Role of Clocks in Operating Deep Space Missions," Proceedings of the 23th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Pasadena, California, December 1991, pp. 111-118.
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