NASA is developing the first space-based quantum sensor for measuring gravity, supported by the agency’s Earth Science Technology Office. The mission will use a quantum gravity gradiometer to map subtle changes in the Earth’s gravitational field and correlate them to subterranean features like aquifers and mineral deposits.
The science-grade instrument will track the difference in acceleration between two clouds of ultra-cold rubidium atoms, which behave like waves at near absolute zero temperatures. This technology has the potential for increased sensitivity, with some estimates suggesting a 10-fold increase over classical sensors.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is collaborating with private companies and academic institutions to develop the QGGPf instrument, which will be around 0.3 cubic yards in volume and weigh approximately 275 pounds. The mission aims to test novel technologies for manipulating interactions between light and matter at the atomic scale.
The innovations achieved during this pathfinder mission could enhance our understanding of Earth’s dynamics, planetary science applications, and fundamental physics. The technology development project involves significant collaborations between NASA and small businesses, including AOSense, Infleqtion, Vector Atomic, and others.
This mission marks a milestone in quantum sensing, paving the way for groundbreaking observations of petroleum reserves, global supplies of fresh water, and other Earth-related phenomena.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/directorates/smd/earth-science-division/earth-science-technology-office/nasa-aims-to-fly-first-quantum-sensor-for-gravity-measurements