Make Navigation easier, NASA Send Atomic Clocks to Mars

The United States Space Agency (NASA) has so many spacecraft operating on Mars. So much so that the space agency has difficulty communicating with all the spacecraft. So, NASA developed Deep Space Atomic Clock technology to overcome this communication problem.

This technology has been developed for two centuries and costs US $ 80 million (Rp1.14 trillion). By flying this technology to Mars, various spacecraft on the red planet will be able to navigate and communicate better without relying heavily on support from Earth. This tool will be flown using the Falcon Heavy on June 24 and will be tested first in space.

"Every spacecraft that explores space depends on navigation that is on Earth to tell them where they are and where they are going," explained Jill Seubert, a space navigator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, at a press conference last week.

they also have to navigate from Earth because the clock in the vehicle is very inaccurate to measure time. But, if we can change that, we can revolutionize the way we explore outer space. "

This revolution is expected to emerge with the presence of Deep Space Atomic Clock technology. Like other atomic clocks, it can measure time in great detail, up to one millionth of a second. But researchers must turn their brain so that these atomic clocks can be small in size. It doesn't have the size of a refrigerator, but it must be as small as a gallon bottle. This small size is needed so that the atomic clock fits into the spacecraft and can be launched.

Once in space, this clock should be able to maintain its accuracy without Earth's intervention. This clock technology is very different from that used by modern clocks used on GPS satellites. Because, the hours on satellites are corrected twice a day to stay on time. Because, maintaining the accuracy of time is very important in navigating space, as Seubert explained.

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"Tracking spacecraft when it is exploring is a very basic problem related to the measurement of time," he explained as quoted from Space. "We can't just pull out a ruler and measure how far your plane is. So, we measure the distance from the echo that the plane needs to send back signals sent from Earth."

That's why the ability of atomic clocks to navigate based on one-way radio signals is very beneficial. Because, all spacecraft on Mars can check their location simultaneously using the same signal. No time sharing is needed. "So that this technology can support an unlimited number of aircraft," he added.

This system can also be used by rovers and humans on the surface of Mars. This is a more sophisticated system than GPS.

"Imagine when astronauts climb Mars. He can check the Mars version of Google Maps to see where he is and direct where he is going."

In addition, with the existence of atomic clocks around Mars, it will facilitate radio navigation on the planet. Especially when combined with optical navigation can make safer and more accurate navigation for astronauts, explained Deep Space Atomic Chief Investigator Todd Ely in a statement quoted by BGR.

This scenario is still far in the future, but getting data on how this atomic clock technology works in space is the first step. After this atomic clock is in its orbit, Seubert and his colleagues will monitor whether this device can keep the time as expected and last a year in that dangerous environment.