# Timing accuracy of the Apollo Guidance Computer?

The AGC timing reference came from a 2.048 MHz crystal clock. But how accurate was this clock circuit? Note 3 of this schematic: "The value of the follwing components to be determined at unit test" is an indication for trimming the frequency by selecting the value of C2.
The thermistors RT1, RT2 and RT3 look like a temperature compensated DC level. The temperature coefficient of the XTAL might be compensated by the reverse coefficent of selected capacitors.

But how accurate was the derived real time clock of 100 Hz? An error of 10 ppm would be 0.864 seconds a day.

An accurate real time clock was not only important for the timing of course corrections but also for astro navigation using the sextant and telescope.

• I don't know the answer, but note that Earthside mission control would be able to upload corrections to the RTC as needed, so the clock wouldn't have to be very accurate at all. Feb 23, 2018 at 16:57
• With carefully selected components of the oscillator and a very good temperature compensation, a maximum error less than 3 ppm seems possible. A total error of less than 0.1 seconds per day may require no corrections during flight.
– Uwe
Feb 24, 2018 at 9:26
• @russell The Apollo spacecraft were supposed to have the capability of completing the mission without any support from the ground, in case the Soviets jammed the comms. Sep 15, 2018 at 23:41

The Apollo 8 onboard clock's measured drift was $$0.953\ \text{ms/hr}\ (0.26\ \text{ppm})$$, while the specified limit is $$7.2\ \text{ms/hr}\ (2\ \text{ppm})$$. They also mention that there were "periodic clock updates from the ground" indicating that they accounted for the drift and over the mission time of 143 hours.