The Experimental Precise Timing Station (E-PTS) for the Galileo System Test Bed (Phase V1): Architectural Design and Experimental Goals

Abstract : The Galileo System Test Bed (GSTB) V1 has two main objectives - conduct experimentation as soon as possible in order to provide feedback to the definition of critical algorithms (Orbit Determination and System Time Synchronization [OD&TS], integrity, etc.) in the Galileo Design and Development Phase - set up the core infrastructure required to conduct the experimentation. In the framework of the GSTB V1, the implementation of the Experimental Precise Timing Station (or E-PTS for short) is important, since it will allow the realization of the Experimental Galileo System Time (E-GST) and the test of different algorithms to ensure stability and accuracy of the resulting time scale. The E-PTS will be implemented at the Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale (IEN), Turin, Italy using the facilities and personnel of the Time & Frequency laboratory, under the responsibility of Alenia Spazio for the Galileo Industries, which is prime contractor for the GSTB V1 phase under an ESA contract. The work will be carried on with the direct participation of two major European national laboratories, the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB - Germany) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL - UK). The authors provide an overview of the GSTB V1 phase, the architecture of the E-PTS and the main experiments supported by the facility for the development of the Galileo navigation system.