Spacecraft X-37B belonging to the US Space Force is set for takeoff on August 21, tasked with testing cutting-edge quantum sensors and laser-communications technology.
The X-37B, a robotic spaceplane operated by the U.S. Space Force, is set to launch on Aug. 21, 2022, marking the beginning of its eighth mission, OTV-8. This upcoming mission will see the spacecraft carrying a groundbreaking experiment: a quantum inertial sensor.
The quantum inertial sensor is designed to strengthen the resilience, reliability, adaptability, and data transport speeds of the satellite communications architecture. It aims to provide precise navigation without relying on satellite-based systems like GPS, a significant step towards leveraging proliferated networks as part of a diversified and redundant architecture.
This sensor works by assessing its orbital coordinates by measuring the rotation and acceleration of nearby atoms. If successful, it could allow a probe to navigate successfully where there are no GPS networks, such as the moon, Mars, and other deep space destinations.
The quantum inertial sensor experiment is a welcome step forward for operational resilience, according to Saltzman. It is intended to enhance the U.S. Space Force's ability to use proliferated networks as part of a diversified and redundant architecture, particularly in deep space missions.
The laser communications demonstration in OTV-8 aims to further this goal by enhancing the U.S. Space Force's ability to use proliferated networks for data transport. This could potentially enable the use of proliferated networks like Starlink's constellation of over 8,000 operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a more robust and resilient data transport system.
The launch will take place from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but the duration of OTV-8 is not specified by Space Force officials.
In summary, the purpose of the quantum inertial sensor is to advance navigation technology that works independently of satellite navigation, critical for space missions operating in regions lacking GPS signals like Mars. This enhances operational resilience and supports reliable movement in challenging space environments. The X-37B's OTV-8 mission is set to push the boundaries of space exploration and navigation technology.
[1] Space Force Officials Prepare for X-37B's Eighth Mission (2022, Aug 18). Retrieved from https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2877376/space-force-officials-prepare-for-x-37bs-eighth-mission/
[2] X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.spaceforce.mil/Space-Operations/Satellite-Operations/X-37B-Orbital-Test-Vehicle/
[3] Quantum Inertial Navigation System (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_inertial_navigation_system
[4] Starlink (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.spacex.com/starlink
[5] Quantum Inertial Sensor Aboard X-37B Spacecraft to Revolutionize Space Navigation (2022, Aug 19). Retrieved from https://www.techtimes.com/articles/284516/20220819/quantum-inertial-sensor-aboard-x-37b-spacecraft-to-revolutionize-space-navigation.htm
- The upcoming mission of the X-37B spacecraft, carrying a quantum inertial sensor, marks a significant advancement in space-and-astronomy, as it aims to revolutionize space navigation by providing precise, GPS-independent navigation, potentially enabling missions to Mars and other deep space destinations.
- Advancements in technology, such as the quantum inertial sensor, are crucial for enhancing satellite communication architecture resilience and adaptability, and could pave the way for the use of proliferated networks like Starlink's constellation of over 8,000 operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a more robust and resilient data transport system.
- With the launch of the X-37B orbiting test vehicle OTV-8, history witnesses the merging of science and technology, as the quantum inertial sensor experiment challenges existing navigation systems and promises to redefine deep space exploration and technology.
