Technology.
Deep Space Atomic Clock -- Navigation Breakthrough
Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ Aug. 20, 2013
The Deep Space Atomic Clock will demonstrate a mercury-ion clock much more accurate than today's best navigation clocks.
Transcript
This animated video explores the Deep Space Atomic Clock project -- a NASA Technology Demonstration Mission to revolutionize deep-space navigation. Time has been crucial in calculating explorers' positions -- from early seafarers who used clocks and stars, to satellite-based GPS and deep-space radio navigation systems. The Deep Space Atomic Clock, scheduled to fly in space in 2015, uses a small, mercury-ion atomic clock much more accurate than today's best navigation clocks. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)