Neuchâtel, Switzerland–based SpectraTime, a member of the Orolia group, has received a €2.5-million research contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop critical technologies for future space-qualified active maser, a critical component of the ACES (Atomic Clocks Ensemble in Space) scientific program.

If successful, the first 18-month period could be followed by a second development contract roughly estimated at several million euros, according to Orolia CEO Jean-Yves Courtois.

The main goals of the ACES program managed by the European Space Agency and the French space agency, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), are to perform accurate tests on Einstein’s theory of general relativity and to open up the way for other applications in universal time scales, global positioning and navigation, and geodesy. This experiment will be housed on board the International Space Station (ISS) as an external payload and is composed of two high-precision clocks: an active maser that SpectraTime will develop and a laser-cooled cesium atomic clock called PHARAO, developed by the CNES.

In addition to the fundamental physics and geodesy experiments, this mission will be a test field for time transfer experiments through the stratosphere and the ionosphere with extremely sophisticated microwave and optic links.

"This new generation of clocks will offer a high-precision space timing reference, opening up the way for new applications such as a new geodesy, Galileo second -eneration satellite system, and fundamental physics tests," says Pascal Rochat, SpectraTime’s CEO.

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SpectraTime has announced its receipt of a contract valued at approximately €4 million to supply rubidium space clocks for the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), a GNSS system that is under development by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

The IRNSS will consist of seven satellites, three in geostationary orbit and the other four in geosynchronous orbit. First launch of an IRNSS is currently expected in 2009. The system will transmit BOC(5,2) and BPSK signals at the L5 frequency (1176.45 MHz) and also in S-band.

SpectraTime has announced its receipt of a contract valued at approximately €4 million to supply rubidium space clocks for the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), a GNSS system that is under development by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

The IRNSS will consist of seven satellites, three in geostationary orbit and the other four in geosynchronous orbit. First launch of an IRNSS is currently expected in 2009. The system will transmit BOC(5,2) and BPSK signals at the L5 frequency (1176.45 MHz) and also in S-band.

Headquartered in Neuchatel, Switzerland, SpectraTime is part of the Orolia group of companies and has provided atomic clocks for Europe’s Galileo and China’s Compass GNSS systems.

Within 5 years, the company expects to have more spaceborne atomic clocks in orbit than any other company, according to Pascal Rochat, SpectraTime’s CEO.

The post SpectraTime to Supply Atomic Clocks to IRNSS appeared first on Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design.

According to FEI, the value of the contract, when finalized, could exceed $10 million with more than half of the work to be completed over the next 18 months.

Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEI) has received an authorization to proceed (ATP) on a new contract to provide master clocks and microwave sources for payloads on the next-generation GPS IIIA satellites. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company leads a team that will build the IIIA spacecraft under a recently announced Air Force contract.

According to FEI, the value of the contract, when finalized, could exceed $10 million with more than half of the work to be completed over the next 18 months.

This contract supports the construction of the first two research and development satellites to be launched as part of a constellation of up to 32 GPS III satellites. The first phase may require add-ons to the initial contract, increasing the overall value of products to be provided by Frequency.

FEI and its principals have considerable expertise in GPS and space-borne atomic clocks. The company’s chief technical officer, Hugo Fruehauf, was the chief engineer for the design and development of the initial Block I GPS satellite. FEI also built a few units as a second source for Block II/IIA spacecraft.

In 2005, FEI received a $3 million, multiple year contract to develop and qualify an advanced atomic clock for possible deployment on U.S. navigation satellite systems.

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