Inter-satellite time transfer: Techniques and applications

A brief review is presented of the well known time transfer techniques that have been studied and tested throughout the years. The applicability of time transfer techniques to a timing service as provided through a TDRS/DRS System, the problems related to the choice of the timing signal within the constraints imposed by the existing systems, and the possible practical implementations, including a description of the time synchronization support via TDRSS to the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) are discussed.