Türkiye’s first domestic atomic clock in space: First signal received

The atomic clock, produced under the leadership of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), under the main contractorship of TÜBİTAK National Metrology Institute (UME), and in cooperation with TÜBİTAK UZAY and İTÜNOVA, represents a critical step for Türkiye’s independence in space technologies.

The rubidium atom was used in the system that measures time with extraordinary precision by reference to fixed frequencies in the energy levels of atoms. The rubidium atom vibrates exactly 6 billion 834 million 682 thousand 610 times in 1 second, providing a perfect reference in time measurement.

IT WILL BE THE BASIS OF DOMESTIC SATELLITE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

RAFS, which will be tested against space conditions on a cube satellite, will direct Türkiye’s future space missions. Data to be obtained from this project; It will enable the development of high-precision timing technologies needed in communication, navigation, defense and domestic satellite systems.

In addition, the domestic atomic clock will serve as the basic building block in the establishment of the “Regional Positioning and Timing System”, one of the most strategic goals of the National Space Program. With the successful completion of the tests in space, Türkiye will take its place among the countries that produce their own solutions in the frequency and satellite technologies of the future.