NASA | SEXTANT: Navigating by Cosmic Beacon

NASA's Sextant Mission aims to revolutionize space navigation by using pulsars as navigational beacons. Pulsars, known for their precise timing, can help spacecraft determine their location in the galaxy, similar to how GPS works on Earth. This innovative approach is still in development, with potential testing on the International Space Station. The mission could enable future spacecraft to navigate to distant planets with unprecedented accuracy.

What is the primary goal of NASA's Sextant Mission?

• To develop new space telescopes

• To explore the surface of Mars

• To study the atmosphere of distant planets

• To use pulsars for spacecraft navigation

What are pulsars commonly known as?

• Stellar lighthouses

• Galactic compasses

• Space beacons

• Cosmic clocks

How do pulsars help in navigation?

• By emitting random energy bursts

• By altering their positions in space

• By providing a constant light source

• By producing precise time pulses

What is the current stage of pulsar-based navigation technology?

• Fully operational

• Completely theoretical

• In the development stage

• In the planning phase

Where might the Sextant proof of concept mission be tested?

• On the Moon

• On a distant asteroid

• On Mars

• On the International Space Station