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Contents Time flies on the ISSConclusionFor more information please contact:The Erasmus Centre About usProducts and servicesWhere to find usErasmus Centre facilitiesAcronyms & abbreviationsHuman Spaceflight Research About this websiteResearch announcementsProgramme organisation Research questionsTopical teamsCurrent research Life sciencePhysical sciencePlatforms & facilities International Space StationSounding rocketsParabolic flightsDrop towersGround Based FacilitiesResearch archive Human Spaceflight and Operations Science NewsletterErasmus Experiment Archive (EEA)Increment Summary ReviewsMultimedia Multimedia galleryServices Contact
| | | | | | | Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES)
Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) is a fascinating new ESA mission developed in cooperation with the French Space Agency (CNES) that will expand the range of research on the International Space Station (ISS).
Short introductory video of ACES.
The ACES payload will be installed on the external payload facility of the Columbus module. The frequency reference generated on-board the ISS will be used by a worldwide network of ground terminals to perform comparisons with the best available atomic clocks on the ground. For more details please follow the links on the right hand of this page.
| | | ACES attached to Columbus. |
Time flies on the ISS
The most precise measurement of time yet – in space – will be used to probe our knowledge of the fundamental laws of physics governing the Universe. ACES will test Einstein’s general relativity and alternative theories of gravitation. Taking full advantage of the microgravity environment and world wide coverage provided by the ISS, ACES will establish a stable and accurate onboard timescale which will be used to perform space-to-ground and ground-to-ground comparisons of best available atomic frequency standards. This is why measuring time as accurately as possible in space is of extreme interest.
Conclusion
The measurement of time has experienced spectacular progress over the last centuries and ACES will provide the next leap forward.
Time really does fly on the Internatioanl Space Station.
For more information please contact:
Rosario Nasca
E-mail: Rosario.Nasca@esa.int
Last update: 25 October 2011 | |
| | Related links ACES PayloadOther ACES Payload elementsACES Time and Frequency LinksACES MissionACES OperationsThe Science CommunityScientific ObjectivesScientific ApplicationsPublicationsDownloads ACES flyer (pdf 400kb)
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