An Automatic Meteor Burst Time Synchronization System for Aerospace Applications

Time synchronization between system elements is an integral requirement in many aerospace systems. To date, microsecond synchronization has been acccomplished by LORAN-C(1), by satellite communications(2), and by transporting portable clocks(3). However, the first two techniques utilize complex systems and are primarily designed for other uses; and the third technique has obvious practical limitations. The need for a relatively simple and economical system for obtaining microsecond synchronization has increased with the availability of atomic standards for maintaining these accuracies in operating systems. A meteor burst time synchronization system may be capable of fulfilling that need.