title: The in-orbit performances of GIOVE clocks.
abstract: The Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element (GIOVE) is an experiment led by the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at supporting the on-going implementation of Galileo, the European global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Among the objectives of the GIOVE Mission are the validation and characterization of the on-board clock technologies. The current baseline technologies for on-board clocks are the rubidium atomic frequency standard (RAFS) and the passive hydrogen maser (PHM). Both technologies have been validated and qualified on ground and are now being further validated in a representative in-orbit environment aboard 2 spacecrafts, GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B. This paper presents the results obtained in the frame of the GIOVE experimentation. The behavior and performances of the clock technologies on board both spacecrafts has been investigated and analyzed in terms of operation, frequency stability, and clock prediction error after more than 3 years of operation for GIOVE-A and almost one year for GIOVE-B. In addition, relativistic frequency shifts of GIOVE spacecrafts have been investigated.
authors.affiliation: European Space Agency, Technical Directorate, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Pierre.Waller@esa.int
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Binda
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sesia
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tavella