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The X-37B test spacecraft, a space-plane operated by the US military, is slated to commence its eighth journey into orbit on August 21, 2025. Its activities are largely concealed. Nonetheless, it notably functions as a testbed for groundbreaking experiments.
One such experiment involves a possible substitute for GPS employing quantum mechanics for navigational purposes: namely, a quantum inertial sensor.
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Within space, notably beyond the orbit of Earth, GPS signals turn unreliable or disappear altogether. The same is valid underwater, where submarines are entirely incapable of accessing GPS. And even on Earth, GPS signals might be intentionally jammed (obstructed), subjected to spoofing (duping a GPS device into perceiving an incorrect location) or rendered inoperative — as an example, during times of conflict.
This renders navigating without GPS a crucially important challenge. In such instances, having navigation mechanisms that can operate independently of any external signals turns out to be vital.
Standard inertial navigation systems (INS), which utilize gyroscopes and accelerometers to measure how a craft accelerates and rotates, do afford self-reliant navigation, considering that they are able to estimate location via monitoring how the craft shifts over time. Imagine yourself sitting within a car while keeping your eyes sealed: you still sense accelerations, stops, and turns, which your mind melds to surmise your location eventually.
After a period of time, though, lacking any visual indicators, smaller errors will accumulate, and you will entirely lose positioning knowledge. The same is true of classical inertial navigation systems: as minor calculation inaccuracies build up, they slowly wander away from their intended trajectory and demand corrections by GPS or other outward signals.
Where quantum helps
Quantum physics may conjure images of a strange domain where particles act as waves and Schrödinger’s cat exists as both alive and dead. These conceptual models correctly illustrate the behavior of diminutive particles such as atoms.
At intensely low temperatures, atoms heed the tenets of quantum mechanics: they function akin to waves and may be present in manifold states concurrently — two attributes constituting the core of quantum inertial sensors.
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The quantum inertial device aboard the X‑37B leverages atom interferometry, a method by which atoms are reduced to temperatures nearly reaching absolute zero, thereby causing them to act in the form of waves. By utilizing precisely modulated lasers, each atom experiences a split into a condition termed a superposition, paralleling Schrödinger’s cat, thus traversing simultaneously across a pair of paths, later to be rejoined.
Quantum mechanics leads the atom to behave as a wave, thus the two paths act upon one another, producing a configuration similar to that of rippling water surfaces merging. Incorporated within this patterning exists comprehensive data regarding the effects of the atom’s surroundings on its trajectory. Specially, the most minute alterations within movement, for example, sensor rotations or accelerations, result in conspicuous impressions on these atomic “waves”.
The X-37B is being readied for its eighth spaceflight.
Quantum sensors possess substantially greater sensitivity when set against conventional inertial navigation systems. Provided that atoms retain identity and remain unaltered, contrary to electronics or mechanical parts, they exhibit less proclivity to deviation or inclination. The effect yields prolonged and accurate navigation without needing external point of reference.
The approaching X‑37B undertaking constitutes the initial instance of testing this magnitude of quantum inertial guidance within space. Prior missions, such as NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory and German Space Agency’s MAIUS-1, have dispatched atom interferometers through orbital or suborbital trajectories, showing the underlying physics of atom interferometry in space commendably, although not specifically for navigational uses.
By contrast, the X‑37B test is purposed as a resilient, compact, superior-performing inertial navigation component intended for actual, protracted missions. Atom interferometry is thereby shifted out of the scope of pure science and brought into practical aerospace utilization. This marks a major advancement.
This bears consequence for both military and civil aviation. For the US Space Force, it symbolizes advancement toward more resilient operation, particularly within environments where GPS access might be denied. Concerning future space exploration, such as to our moon, Mars, or even remote locations within space, where independence is paramount, a quantum navigation mechanism could function not solely as backup of reliability, but furthermore as a primary system in instances when earthly signals are unavailable.
Quantum navigation comprises merely a constituent of the current, wider trend of quantum technologies transitioning from lab experiments into tangible purposes. Despite quantum computing and communications claiming frequent spotlight attention, quantum clocks and devices like quantum sensors are probably the initial systems to achieve widespread deployment.
Numerous nations, involving the UK, China and the US, invest heavily within quantum inertial sensing, recent submarine and airborne testing having demonstrated great likelihood. During 2024, Boeing and AOSense executed the primary in-flight quantum inertial navigation test aboard a crewed aircraft across the globe.
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This demonstrated continued GPS-free movement for close to four hours. During that same year, the United Kingdom ran their inaugural publicly documented quantum navigation flight test within a business plane.
This summer, the X‑37B assignment will deliver these innovations into space. Given its military classification, this particular evaluation could remain silent and unpublished. But should it bear success, it might be memorialized as a point where space navigation leapt into a quantum era.
This edited article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Samuel LellouchAssistant Professor in Digital Twinning, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham
Samuel Lellouch serves as an Assistant Professor in Digital Twinning at the University of Birmingham and also as a Co-Investigator at the UK Quantum Hub for Sensing and Timing. He works alongside engineers, physicists, and industry specialists to construct digital representations of quantum sensors, quickening their purposes in navigation, fundamental physics, civil engineering and space. He received the honor of the Young Researcher Prize in 2015 coming from IFRAF/GdR Atomes Froids.
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