However, the whole concept of synchronization of clocks makes it hard to determine in which reference frame the OPERA experiment was set. I propose the experiment was set in the satellite reference frame and has been treated (at least partially) as if it were set in the CERN-Gran Sasso reference frame.
Can someone explain why one would even think the experiment was set in the satellite reference frame? As far as I can tell they never used any clocks on satellites. They just synchronized two clocks—in the same reference frame—to an event outside that reference frame. The satellite doesn’t even need to keep time so long as its signals each have a unique identity and we know the location of the satellite when it sends the signal to set the clocks. You can alter the clocks to account for difference in signal travel time—from the satellite to each clock.
From his apology:
Can someone explain why one would even think the experiment was set in the satellite reference frame? As far as I can tell they never used any clocks on satellites. They just synchronized two clocks—in the same reference frame—to an event outside that reference frame. The satellite doesn’t even need to keep time so long as its signals each have a unique identity and we know the location of the satellite when it sends the signal to set the clocks. You can alter the clocks to account for difference in signal travel time—from the satellite to each clock.