title: A "space experiment" examining the response of a geosynchronous quartz crystal oscillator to various levels of solar activity.
abstract: Viewing the frequency history of the high-quality quartz crystal oscillator onboard Milstar FLT-1 as a "space experiment," we have examined the response of the crystal to various solar flares that have occurred over the past 4 years. Our results show that, even for the largest solar flares that can be expected, timekeeping onboard a geosynchronous communications satellite need not be unduly perturbed by the enhanced space-radiation environment of a solar flare, so long as the ground station can take mitigating action within a few hours of the flare's onset.
authors.affiliation: Electronics and Photonics Laboratory, The Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA 90009, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: LaLumondiere
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Camparo