An atomic clock that could revolutionize space travel just passed its first test

The Deep Space Atomic Clock could help spacecraft reach distant destinations on their own

illustration of a spacecraft carrying NASA’s Deep Space Atomic Clock orbiting above Earth

The most precise clock ever flown in space, NASA’s Deep Space Atomic Clock, could improve spacecraft navigation throughout the solar system. This illustration shows the spacecraft carrying the clock.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

An atomic clock that could transform deep-space travel has successfully completed its first test run in space.