8 Gravity, timing and metrology

In the previous section you encountered timing research on the ISS. This research also includes ‘metrology’ which is the application of physical units. To summarise this research in context, Figure 7 shows the components of technology driving the modules of research into the development of systems.

Figure 7 Metrology research by the University of Birmingham.

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This is an image of a metrology flow chart from left to right starting with components, then modules and finally systems (commercial supply chain partners). The components fit in with supply chain technologies (vacuum and atom chips, LASERs and electronics, optical delivery and systems package); the modules fit in with prototyping (gravity, rotation, clocks, magnetic and quantum imaging); the systems fit in with market building (definition of mass, detection of sink-holes, locating pipes, archaeology, assessing leaks, assessing rail tracks, underground intelligence, climate space missions, navigation, definition of time, network timing, monitoring flow, brain diagnostics, brain-machine interface, skin-type determination, drug effects on ion-current, data storage (optical and magnetic), bio-imaging and more). These all combine for end user partners.

Figure 7 Metrology research by the University of Birmingham.

The precision of timing instruments is very important, but what type of clocks do we use? In Figure 7 you can see that some components, for example LASERs, can drive prototypes of clocks for navigation, defining time and for network timing. How important are these systems? Obviously, navigation systems are very important for applications in global positioning systems (GPS) and banking transactions also rely heavily on precise timing, so how are these systems made more accurate?

Read the following article: http://newsfeed.time.com/ 2013/ 07/ 11/ new-optical-atomic-clock-poised-to-redefine-timekeeping/ [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] , which introduces a new optical clock to improve timing precisions. Then complete Activity 10.

You will now look at communication and security using the ISS as a platform.