Development status of the Rb POP space clock for GNSS applications

Abstract

We present the status of the industrialization activity of a Rubidium POP (Pulsed Optically Pumped) clock Physics Package (PP) designed to meet the harsh space environment and more than 12 years of life-time. Leonardo completed the design phase including thermal, mechanical and magnetic analyses. PP manufacturing started at the beginning of 2018. The vibration test on the full microwave cavity assembly prototype including the Rb cell is foreseen by the first half of the year. The target for the Rb POP industrialization activity is to achieve a space qualification of the full clock by 2020 and the readiness for experimental flight by 2022.