Design Considerations and Performance of a Spaceborne Hydrogen Maser Frequency Standard
Abstract
An engineering development model (EDM) of a compact hydrogen maser atomic clock for spaceborne applications has been built by Hughes Aircraft Company, Space and Communications Group (S&CG). The clock weighs 29.1 kg and has a power consumption of 64 Watts. The clock has demonstrated an excellent immunity to baseplate temperature variations during thermalvacuum tests, maintaining a fractional frequency stability of 2x10(-15) for a 10(5) sec averaging time in the presence of a 10 deg C sinusoidal baseplate temperature modulation. The drift rate is also quite low, a few parts in 10(-15)/day as measured against a VLGl1 conventional maser, The design criteria, several technical solutions and the possibility of further reductions in size and weight are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA503621
Entities
People
- B. A. Bettencourt
- E. S. Richter
- H. T. Wang
- R. R. Hayes
Organizations
- Hughes Aircraft Company