Modulight to Develop Atomic Clock Laser

Modulight Inc. of Tampere, Finland, has received a $364,000 contract from the European Space Agency to develop lasers for compact laser-pumped ceslum-beam atomic clocks. The clocks will be used aboard the agency’s second-generation system for the Galileo satellite navigation mission. The first-generation mission will include 30 satellites in medium Earth orbit upon full deployment in 2010. Scientists aim to minimize the need to correct onboard clocks with more accurate ground clocks.