First Results of GPS (Global Positioning System) Time Transfer to Australia,

Abstract

A Global Positioning System time transfer unit built by NBS under contract to JPL was installed at Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communications Complex of the NASA Deep Space Network in June 1983. It has been used to estimate the relationship to UTC(USNO MC) of the Tidbinbilla frequency and time system TID(FTS) based on a hydrogen maser, and thence to estimate the performance of the Australian free-running time scale UTC(AUS). Data from the first three months has been analysed three ways: by two-hop common view using JPL as intermediary; by long-arc interpolation of measurements against space vehicle clocks; and by long-arc interpolation of GPS-Time results. Residuals from a single quadratic fit through three months of UTC(USNO MC) - TID (FTS) results were white noise with standard error 15 ns, and a flying clock measurement gave 70 ns agreement. A straight line fit through results UTC(USNO MC) - UTC (AUS) gave 90 ns standard error and 120 bns agreement. It is proposed to use the GPS measurements to steer UTS(AUS) to UTC(BIH), and to rename the existing time scale TA(AUS). (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 02, 1984
Accession Number
ADP004577

Entities

People

  • J. E. Wells
  • J. M. Luck
  • J. R. Woodger
  • P. A. Clements
  • P. N. Churchill

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Atomic Beam Masers
  • Clocks
  • Deep Space
  • Frequency
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Interpolation
  • Measurement
  • Space Communications
  • Spacecraft
  • Standards
  • Time Intervals
  • Vehicles
  • White Noise

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Nanofabrication and Microfabrication.
  • Regression Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Space