An engineering feasibility study for one-way time transfer using the GOES satellite ranging system

Abstract

The Time and Frequency Division of the National Bureau of Standards has conducted an engineering study to determine the feasibility of using the GOES satellite ranging system for precise (0.1 microsecond, one-sigma) time transfer to a receiving-only timing site. The GOES satellite ranging system, termed a trilateration system, will accurately locate this satellite within some coordinate structure. The sources of time transfer errors have been studied in some detail.These errors can be caused by satellite location errors, ground station location errors, unknown delays caused by the troposphere, the ionosphere, and the various equipments. Simplified designs for an automatic and a manually operated timing site are presented. Some technical problems found in the associated equipment are discussed. The study indicates that a secondary, or slave site, clock could be synchronized to within 0.1 microsecond, one-sigma, of some master clock utilizing a one-way, or receiving-only system.

The GOES time code service, 1974-2004: A retrospective

“…While the WWVS experiments were still in progress, NBS had begun work on another type of one-way satellite broadcast service, publishing a feasibility study in 1973 [ 27 ]. This proposed service would use the Synchronous Meteorological Satellites (SMS), the first of which was to be launched by NASA in May 1974.…”