SpectraTime Wins 4 Million Euro Space Clock Contract

[Satellite Today 09-10-08] SpectraTime has been award a contract valued at approximately 4 million euros to supply Rubidium space clocks to the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), SpectraTime announced Sept. 10.
    With this new contract, SpectraTime claims is on the way to having the largest number of atomic clocks in space on-board satellites.
    IRNSS, according to its developer, the Indian Space Agency (ISRO), will consist of seven satellites. Three of the satellites will be placed in geostationary orbit and four others in geosynchronous orbit. IRSO said the constellation will also comprise a ground segment consisting of a center of principal control and ground stations in order to follow the satellites and to guarantee the system integrity.
According to SpectraTime, the first IRNSS satellite could be launched in 2009.