Intercontinental Clock Syncronization with the Block I VLBI System

Abstract

The Block I Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI) operated by the Deep Space Network (DSN) is used to make weekly measurements of the relative epoch and rate offsets between the time standards in the global network of DSN stations. Over the past year, the precision of these measurements has routinely achieved sub-microsecond levels for epoch offset and accuracies of better than one part in 10(exp 12) for rate offset. The implementation of the phase calibrator system will permit absolute measurement of epoch offset to better than 10 nanoseconds. With the near-real-time playback and on-line storage of VLBI data, the Block I system typically produces clock parameters within 48 hours from the time of observation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA497590

Entities

People

  • Mitchell G. Roth

Organizations

  • California Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Accuracy
  • Clocks
  • Deep Space
  • Information Operations
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Measurement
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Nanosecond Time
  • Standards
  • Time Intervals

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Space