Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Aug 24: The US Air Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is set to launch its eighth mission on August 21, 2025, carrying an experiment that could redefine navigation technology. The space plane will test a quantum inertial sensor, billed as a revolutionary alternative to GPS.

GPS currently powers everything from smartphones to aviation but remains vulnerable to jamming, spoofing and degradation in space or underwater. The quantum sensor, built on atom interferometry, uses ultracold atoms behaving like waves. By measuring interference patterns caused by motion, it can deliver navigation accuracy without relying on external signals.

Unlike traditional inertial navigation systems, which accumulate errors over time, quantum sensors promise unmatched stability. Earlier missions by NASA and German researchers have explored atom interferometry in orbit, but this will be the first long-duration attempt for navigation.

Analysts say the breakthrough could make military systems more resilient and support autonomous navigation in space, undersea and contested environments. Civilian applications, from submarines to aircraft, are also being explored. Boeing and AOSense tested the concept on aircraft in 2024, while the UK completed its first quantum navigation flight.

Experts believe the X-37B mission could mark a turning point, moving quantum navigation from experimental labs into real-world use, with transformative potential for defense and exploration.