What Could NASAs Atomic Clock Mean for Space Tourism

We&rsquore not scientists here. But it&rsquos difficult to not feel excited when small things are capable of turning huge, huge tables. NASA&rsquos Jet Propulsion Lab in California recently launched a trial demonstration of their Deep Space Atomic Clock. No bigger than a toaster oven, the clock, in a nutshell, is technology that will allow spacecrafts to navigate themselves. This means the ability to travel through deep space without requiring the constant relay of information from Earth. The instrument&rsquos going to (ideally) float around in our orbit for a year, before it becomes a mainstay for future missions. 

You might remember that our June 2019 edition discussed the future of travel. With companies like SpaceX, Virgin Atlantic and Blue Origin being dead serious about sending tourists into space, it seems only fair to carry the tune forward. NASA, too, announced the introduction of private trips to the ISS from next year, for a daring $35,000 per night. And not to forget, one of the pioneers from last year Orion Span's Aurora Station, slated to launch in 2021. While holidaying among the stars is still something only in the range of oil tycoons and entertainment giants, we&rsquore not averse to a bit of science-meets-fancy.

If the atomic clock demonstration proves to be successful, here&rsquos what we think (and hope) can follow in future decades

> Current spacecrafts don&rsquot have their own GPS system, and depend on atomic clocks overseen by navigation teams on Earth to determine their location data. Similar to how your GPS&rsquo efficiency depends on your phone&rsquos signal speed in connection to a satellite, the farther a spacecraft travels from Earth, the longer it takes for communication. If NASA&rsquos Deep Space Atomic Clock could sit onboard your, ahem, tourist ship, it could determine its own interstellar location. Think of it like a concierge with their own sense of agency, without having to constantly consult the hotel manager. While we&rsquod definitely be too awestruck to feel bothered by such delays, any time saved is great in case of emergency scenarios in orbit, a few minutes could make all the difference. It&rsquos not like we have an interstellar tourism guide to draw from, anyway. 

> The precision of these clocks could help curate space trips better. &ldquoA clock that is off by even a single second could mean the difference between landing on Mars and missing it by miles,&rdquo says NASA. Veering ridiculously off course is unlikely, though, as the Deep Space Atomic Clock&rsquos shown itself to be &lsquoup to 50 times more stable than the atomic clocks on GPS satellites&rsquo. Confucius did say the journey mattered more than the destination, but we&rsquore sure you&rsquod want a tight baseline for your first galactic itinerary. Imagine the horror when you pack for cold desert conditions, only to land up on a river of methane If the opportunity does arrive in this lifetime, I&rsquod definitely add Saturn&rsquos outer rings to the list.

> Space tourism is an obvious stepping stone to settlements beyond Earth, and we like to think that these journeys would one day allow for pit stops a la The Hitchhiker&rsquos Guide to the Galaxy. The clock&rsquos precision is meant bring an elevated level of safety (relative to current spacecrafts) and detail for journeys beyond orbit, and could help kickstart the process of inexpensive travel from the surface of the Earth, to low earth orbit.

While NASA may be unintentionally leading the charge for space tourism, remember that there&rsquos no last-minute business here. The human body isn&rsquot built to instantly survive space. Astronauts constantly exercise and relearn simple physical movements, so that the gravity-deprived muscle loss they experience beyond orbit doesn&rsquot make their bodies crumple on the ride home. Nevertheless, if you&rsquore keen on the idea and training, and have a few million to spare, Space Adventures is the only company that&rsquos successfully sent private citizens to space. To sample their spacewalks, circumlunar missions and more, see spaceadventures.com.