Photo credit: www.esa.int

European Atomic Clock Arrives at NASA for Space Testing

The Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES), a pioneering initiative by the European Space Agency (ESA), has officially reached NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This sophisticated experiment aims to explore fundamental physics from the exterior of ESA’s Columbus module aboard the International Space Station (ISS), ushering in a new era of time measurement with remarkable accuracy from orbit.

Earlier this month, ACES began its journey with a transatlantic flight from Europe. Upon arrival at Kennedy Space Center, the experiment underwent essential preparations within the controlled environment of the Space Station Processing Facility cleanroom.

Collaboration among teams from ESA, Airbus, and NASA was evident as they meticulously unboxed and inspected the payload to ensure the instrument’s integrity. Following rigorous system checks conducted by engineers, ACES was carefully repackaged and secured in a specialized magnetic “G-iron” shield. This protective casing is vital for safeguarding the delicate atomic clocks contained within the instrument.

Next, ACES is set to be transported to SpaceX, where it will undergo final integration with the Falcon 9 rocket in anticipation of its impending launch, scheduled for April 21. This mission is highly anticipated not only for its scientific contributions but also for the advancements it promises in precision timekeeping in space.

Source
www.esa.int