Citation
Abstract
Spacecraft navigation to the outer planets (Jupiter and beyond) places very stringent demands upon the performance of frequency and time (F&T) reference standards. The Deep Space Network (DSN) makes use of hydrogen masers as an aid in meeting the routine F&T operational requirements within the 64-m antenna network. Results as of October 1980 indicate the hydrogen masers are performing within the required specifications. However, two problem areas remain that affect operations performance: (1) there is insufficient control over the environment in which the reference standards reside and, (2) frequency drift makes it very difficult to maintain the 64-m-DSSto-64-m-DSS synt over the 130-day period required by the flight project.
Details
- Volume
- 42-63
- Published
- June 15, 1981
- Pages
- 203–218
- File Size
- 910.5 KB