General Information

Serial #

DAT 003

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Coated and uncoated metal, rubber power cord

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

47.5 cm

Width

48.0 cm

Height

44.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Exploration and Survey

Category

Measurement-position

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

University

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Purchased by NRCan in 01-01-1996

Canada

The Canadian Geodetic Long Baseline Interferometry (CGLBI) research is Canada's representative to the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry. Modern Geodesy relies on astronomical and space based techniques, namely Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), GPS (the Global Positioning System), SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) and LLR (Lunar Laser Ranging). IAG commission VIII (International Coordination of Space Techniques for Geodesy and Geodynamics (CSTG)) discusses the different space techniques in its status report for 1996, and argues that "Only VLBI is capable of defining the Celestial Reference Frame, which serves as the inertial system in satellite geodesy. Long term stability of UT1 UTC and of precession/mutation can only be guaranteed by this technique." Their summary states: "It is clear from the scientific point of view that VLBI, Laser Ranging (SLR and LLR), and satellite microwave techniques are indispensable as contributors to space geodesy." The Canadian contribution to Geodetic VLBI is substantial. The Algonquin Radio Observatory is a leading site for Geodetic VLBI with a very long history of observations. Continued operation of the Yellowknife antenna is important for studies of the North American Plate. The Canadian developed S2 VLBI system is a complete system consisting of recording terminals, data acquisition systems, playback terminals and a correlator.

Function

Allowed the researchers to very accurately determine changes in the Earth and the Earth's place in space.

Technical

S2 DAS: This Canadian designed data acquisition system was adopted internationally to define the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) a key element in mapping especially in the era of Global Positioning System satellites. The US system, in comparison, took 1 slice per frequency while the S2 only had 1 slice and skipped along the frequencies being scanned. This was much more efficient and technically a much simpler system but each system still cost $250,000. A Russian version uses yet another technique with slightly less stable time-base system, hence slightly less precise. The HP and Datum instruments were state-of-the-art when produced and had long term stability as a time keeper but were not as stable on the short term. Their roles in the system was to provide a very precise time record so that records from different observatories could be compared directly to determine the shifts in position of the continents and of the Earth in space.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

White print reads: "S2 DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM"/ Small white label above reads: "GSD 0142"/ Bottom of panel has a series of labelled cable connections/ Lower right corner: "Real Time Clock" and "DAT-003"/ Back of panel is filled with labelled cable connections.

Missing

N/A

Finish

Black coated metal with uncoated metal parts. White print and a white label. Back of system is entirely filled labelled cable connection. Front of panel also has a few slots for cable connections.

Decoration

N/A