NIST Boulder Atomic Time Scale Fails Due to Power Outage, Internet Time Services Affected
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Summary
NIST's Boulder campus has experienced a prolonged utility power outage due to high wind gusts and wildfire prevention measures, causing the atomic ensemble time scale to fail. The Boulder Internet Time Services no longer have an accurate time reference, and affected servers include time-a-b.nist.gov through time-e-b.nist.gov and ntp-b.nist.gov. While servers remain available via standby generators, efforts are being made to disable them to prevent dissemination of incorrect time. Staff access is limited, and the focus is on obtaining alternate power to preserve hydrogen maser clocks beyond their battery backups.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledIn short, the atomic ensemble time scale at our Boulder campus has failed due to a prolonged utility power outage.
One impact is that the Boulder Internet Time Services no longer have an accurate time reference.
At time of writing the Boulder servers are still available due a standby power generator, but I will attempt to disable them to avoid disseminating incorrect time.
No time to repair estimate is available until we regain staff access and power. Efforts are currently focused on obtaining an alternate source of power so the hydrogen maser clocks survive beyond their battery backups.
Due to prolonged high wind gusts there have been a combination of utility power line damage and preemptive utility shutdowns (in the interest of wildfire prevention) in the Boulder, CO area.
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