Development of Time Comparison Equipment for ETS-VIII Satellite

The CRL (Communications Research Laboratory) and the JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) are planning to conduct a precise time and frequency transfer between an atomic clock on the ETS-VIII satellite and a ground-reference clock. The CRL is developing special equipment for this precise time transfer link. That conducts the two-way time transfer using the carrier phase measurement method. We expect to obtain a precise measurement exceeding 10 ps between the on-board standards and ground reference clocks. The development of the time comparison equipment, which underwent electrical tests, was finished. We are constructing the ground stations and planning detailed experiments