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Tag: Orolia

  • Orolia to Supply Atomic Clocks for Galileo Satellites

    Orolia to Supply Atomic Clocks for Galileo Satellites

    Passive hydrogen maser.
    Passive hydrogen maser.

    Orolia has finalized the contracts to supply Rubidium atomic clocks (Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard, RAFS) and passive hydrogen masers to equip eight satellites for Galileo’s Full Operational Capability Phase II program. The two new contracts, totaling 14.5 million euros, follows the authorization to proceed received in June 2012 for the manufacture of these two types of high-precision clocks.

    Orolia brands include Spectratime and Spectracom. The announcement was made through Orolia subsidiary Spectratime.

    Each Galileo satellite carries two Rubidium atomic clocks and a passive hydrogen maser, the most stable clock in the world, according to Spectratime. Once completed, this new contract, in partnership with Astrium and Selex Galileo, will make Spectratime the leading supplier in the world for active atomic clocks in space, including 72 for the Galileo system.

    Rubidium atomic clock, or RAF.
    Rubidium atomic clock, or RAF.

    Atomic clocks are used in satellite navigation because of their stability, low weight and high reliability. Very accurate time is used to precisely measure the path of radio signals from the satellites to Earth, and by calculation, the distance between the satellites and the Galileo receiver. The stability of these clocks is enough to guarantee geo-location accuracy of one meter with a fully operational ground infrastructure.

    Spectratime said it has the expertise and capability in designing advanced maser physics packages for high-performance, high-reliability space applications, where the clocks need protection in the hostile space environment from radiation, magnetic fields, shock, vibration, or thermal variations.

  • Orolia, Rapco Announce Strategic Partnership

    European timing and frequency technology players Orolia and Rapco Electronics Ltd. have formed a strategic partnership for technology development and distribution.

    Specifically, Orolia Group companies Spectracom and SpectraTime will join the existing alliance between Pendulum Instruments — recently acquired by Orolia — and Rapco Electronics to cooperate on several fronts, including global distribution channels, operations, and new product development efforts. U.K.-based Rapco Electronics will represent and distribute Spectracom and Pendulum products in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the companies said. Outside of this region, both Pendulum and Spectracom will distribute key Rapco products under their own respective brands.

    In addition to sales, Orolia and Rapco Electronics will combine service and support for the United Kingdom and Ireland in Rapco’s Basingstoke, U.K. headquarters. Serving as a single point of contact, Rapco will provide its and Orolia Group customers a high level of local service and support for standard time and frequency products, unique applications, systems and custom engineered applications, the companies said.

    The partnership will also enable Rapco Electronics to enhance its ability to provide custom timing and frequency systems for defense and space customers, given its access to Orolia technology, according to the two partners. Technology sharing and operational efficiencies between them will also enable a higher degree of innovation and lower times to market for their customers, the companies said.

    “Orolia and Rapco Electronics complement each other very well, and we are very excited about our new relationship,” said Yves Courtois, Orolia chairman and CEO. “By joining forces, we believe we can boost Orolia’s presence in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and substantially accelerate our worldwide development in defense and space timing and synchronization, a corner stone to large system integration.”