NASA’s most accurate atomic clock will be tested on a mission to Venus

By Matthew Sparkes

A toaster-sized atomic clock orbiting Earth is 25 times more accurate than existing space clocks and will soon be tested on a mission to Venus. The highly accurate timepiece could improve navigation for deep-space missions.

Atomic clocks work by measuring the radiation emitted by electrons as they hop from lower to higher orbits around atoms. These clocks are used in space now, but the atoms can collide with the walls of the vessel containing them, affecting accuracy. The Deep …