In the new study, researchers report that the Deep Space Atomic Clock has been operating aboard General Atomic's Orbital Test Bed spacecraft since June 2019. ... NASA said its Deep Space Atomic Clock could “revolutionize” deep space navigation. A compact design is a key requirement for the technology demonstration.

Does an atomic clock work in space?

Scientists have now managed to stabilise the clock in space, reaching more than 10 times the stability of current space-based atomic clocks being used on GPS satellites. Scientists have said that atomic clocks are essential for deep space exploration and global navigation satellite systems.

What clock does NASA use?

Currently, spacecraft rely on ground-based atomic clocks. To measure a spacecraft's trajectory as it travels beyond the Moon, navigators use these timekeepers to precisely track when those signals are sent and received.