DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SYNCHRONIZED POSITION, HOLD, ENGAGE,
REORIENT, EXPERIMENTAL SATELLITES-CHIP SCALE ATOMIC CLOCK (DOD
SPHERES-CSAC)
Research Area: Communication and Navigation
Expedition(s): 29- 30
Principal Investigator(s): ● Andrei Shkel, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency,
Washington, DC
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Department of Defense Synchronized Position, Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites -
Chip Scale Atomic Clock (DOD SPHERES-CSAC) demonstrates the performance of an atomic
clock in the sustained microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS). An
atomic clock is a precision clock that depends on an electrical oscillation regulated by the
natural vibration frequencies of an atomic system. Atomic clocks are the most accurate time
keepers in the world.
EARTH BENEFITS
DOD SPHERES-CSAC results may aid in
the development of small-scale
inertial navigation systems (INS) for
use on vehicles such as ships, aircraft,
and submarines.
SPACE BENEFITS
The development of Chip-Scale
Atomic Clock enables ultra-
miniaturized (wristwatch in size) and
ultra-low power time and frequency
references for high-security, ultra-high
frequency (UHF) communication and
jam-resistant global positioning
system (GPS) receivers. The use of
these ultra-miniature time reference
units could greatly improve the mobility and robustness of any system and platform with
sophisticated UHF communication and/or navigation requirements. Results from DOD
SPHERES-CSAC may also help in the development of small-scale INS for use on small satellites
(mass 1-10 kg).
RESULTS
There are no published results at this time.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.
Front view of DOD SPHERES-CSAC Reference Clock. The goal
of the CSAC program is to create ultra-miniaturized, low-power,
atomic time and frequency reference units. Photo was taken
during Expedition 30.