• A Nature study warns that necrosis — an unregulated form of cell death — poses a major biological risk for long-duration space missions, with implications for astronaut health and mission success.
• Researchers link necrosis to space-induced stressors like radiation and microgravity, which can damage cell membranes, disrupt calcium balance, and accelerate tissue breakdown.
• The study calls for new countermeasures targeting necrosis directly, highlighting its role in diseases like kidney failure and neurodegeneration, and urging its inclusion in astronaut health monitoring and space mission planning.

As the commercial space sector pushes beyond low Earth orbit, a growing body of research suggests that a biological process — long considered an inevitable consequence of disease and aging — may represent a far greater risk than previously understood.

A study published in Nature Oncogene repositions necrosis, the uncontrolled death of cells, as a central driver of biological failure. The findings have wide-ranging implications, from cancer treatment and chronic disease management to astronaut health on long-duration missions.

The authors argue that necrosis, unlike genetically programmed cell death, is a chaotic, unregulated process that not only accelerates disease but undermines resilience across the body, particularly under the extreme stresses of spaceflight.

A Biological Bottleneck for Deep Space

While most space industry experts worry about launch costs and supply chain issues, Carina Kern, CEO and Founder LinkGevity, and lead author of the paper, said that biology may turn out to be the ultimate bottleneck for long-duration missions.

For commercial and governmental space programs targeting the Moon, Mars and beyond, microgravity, radiation and oxidative stress, which are common conditions in space, can accelerate necrosis. These stressors collectively erode cell membranes, disrupt calcium balances and trigger uncontrolled chain reactions that destroy tissues.

“Spaceflight exacerbates the same stressors that cause necrosis on Earth, due to microgravity and cosmic radiation, but in a much shorter time frame,” Kern said in an email interview with Space Insider. “Without addressing necrosis directly, the risks to biological resilience in space will only grow as missions get longer and farther from Earth.”

The study points to spaceflight-induced analogs of aging: muscle wasting, kidney damage, and impaired immune function, all of which are linked to necrotic processes. Necrosis in space, then, is not just a health risk but a systemic threat to mission viability.

Why Necrosis Matters For Both The Earthbound And Spacebound

Necrosis differs fundamentally from apoptosis and other regulated forms of cell death, which occur through genetic programs and often serve beneficial roles like removing damaged or cancerous cells. Necrosis, by contrast, is not programmed. It is triggered when cells experience stress beyond their capacity to cope, such as from hypoxia, toxic exposure, or mechanical trauma.

In the body, this unprogrammed cell death leads to membrane rupture, inflammation and the release of toxic cellular contents. The study shows that necrosis acts as a “pathological node,” initiating positive feedback loops that exacerbate tissue damage, trigger immune responses, and cause chronic conditions.

These mechanisms are implicated in kidney disease, heart attacks, strokes, neurodegeneration and aggressive cancers. For spaceflight, the concern is that necrosis could be triggered by cumulative stressors unique to off-world environments — such as altered fluid dynamics, increased radiation exposure, and restricted access to countermeasures like exercise or antioxidant therapies.

Already Documented in Short-Term Space Missions

The study, which also includes contributors from NASA’s Space-H program and the European Space Agency’s life sciences advisory group, emphasizes that necrosis is already seen in accelerated form during short-term space missions. In experiments on astronauts, researchers observed early signs of renal dysfunction, muscle atrophy, and blood-brain barrier instability—conditions known to involve necrotic damage.

By framing necrosis as both a driver and a marker of systemic decline, the researchers argue that it could become a key indicator for astronaut readiness and resilience. More importantly, targeting necrosis directly — rather than waiting for downstream diseases to emerge — may offer a novel path to maintaining long-term health in space.

Because Necrosis is chaotic, unregulated and ultimately untreatable, scientists and doctors have long viewed is as a biological dead end, but things are changing, according to Kern.

“Here we demonstrate that necrosis is not merely a consequence of cellular damage but a fundamental driver of aging and age-related diseases,” Kern said. “In biology, identifying the right target is half the challenge. This work proposes necrosis as a powerful and actionable target for therapeutic intervention, thus paving the way for novel intervention into necrosis. Successful intervention into necrosis would represent a breakthrough on the scale of the discovery of antibiotics.”

She added that scientists are — as this study demonstrates — now beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms well enough to intervene.

“Spaceflight provides an amplified model of human aging and degeneration,” Kern said. “If we can learn to control necrosis in space (where it progresses faster and more dramatically), we’ll unlock new treatments not just for astronauts, but for cancer, kidney disease, neurodegeneration, and even aging on Earth.”

Methods and Conceptual Framework

The study synthesizes evidence from molecular biology, oncology, nephrology, and space medicine. It introduces the “Blueprint Theory,” which maps common pathological pathways, such as necrosis, as central failure points in aging and disease progression. The researchers use this framework to argue that targeting upstream triggers — like calcium overload and membrane destabilization — could disrupt the cycle of damage.

The approach includes reviewing experimental data from organ damage models, cancer progression studies, and space analog environments. While the research is primarily conceptual, it presents a roadmap for developing necrosis inhibitors as therapeutic countermeasures for aging, cancer, and space-induced degeneration.

Limitations and Open Questions

Despite the comprehensive framework, the study acknowledges limitations that could serve as targets for future research. For example, no direct inhibitor of necrosis currently exists. Most drug candidates have failed in trials, especially in cases like acute kidney injury or cardiac ischemia. Strategies to mitigate oxidative stress or calcium imbalances have had only modest effects.

Another limitation is the challenge of distinguishing necrosis from genetically programmed cell death forms like necroptosis or ferroptosis, which may share molecular signatures but differ in reversibility and treatment potential.

The paper stops short of presenting a working drug candidate but calls for a paradigm shift in how necrosis is approached in biomedicine.

Future Directions for the Space Industry

For the space sector, the most immediate implication is the need to monitor necrosis-related biomarkers during missions. This could influence crew selection, spacecraft design and the development of pharmaceuticals that mitigate cellular stress in orbit.

Long-term, if necrosis can be controlled, it could open the door to enhanced astronaut performance, extended space missions, and even biological preservation techniques like cryopreservation and organ transport—both critical for future space settlements.

The study also raises the possibility that microgravity research could help accelerate therapeutic development on Earth. Space, with its rapid-aging analogs and extreme stressors, might serve as an ideal environment to test necrosis-targeting strategies that would take decades to evaluate terrestrially.

The researchers involved in the study include Carina Kern, Bill Davis, Halime Karakoy, and Nikodem Grzesiak, all of LinkGevity; Joseph V. Bonventre, Harvard; Alexander W. Justin, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology; Kianoush Kashani, Mayo Clinic; Elizabeth Reynolds, Starburst Aerospace / NASA / Microsoft / Translational Research Institute for Space Health; Keith Siew, University College London; and Damian Miles Bailey, University of South Wales / Bexorg Inc / European Space Agency.

You can learn more about Space Biotech’s key players and emerging trends in Space Insider’s Space Biotech market map.

• A commercial replacement for the International Space Station could save NASA $1.8 billion annually and open a multi-billion-dollar market in space research, manufacturing, tourism, and entertainment, according to a study in Acta Astronautica.
• The team from the International Space University concluded that a commercial space station could be self-sustaining within a decade if supported by public-private funding and designed to serve diverse users such as governments, universities, and the creative industry.
• Key revenue streams identified include space-based research, projected space tourism revenues of up to $3.3 billion annually, in-space manufacturing, and new markets like orbital film production and VR streaming, though the study notes significant operational, financial, and regulatory risks.
• Image: Artistic rendering of a SMBLand Artistic rendering of an observatory onboard a CSS (From the study, Midjourney).

Replacing the International Space Station with commercial stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) could save NASA nearly billions — and open up a billion dollar market to propel the human spaceflight and industry, a new study in Acta Astronautica suggests.

Researchers from the International Space University estimate that NASA’s transition from the ISS to private platforms by 2033 would reduce its annual costs from $3.1 billion to around $1.3 billion. That $1.8 billion delta, while a cost-saving for government, is seen as a catalyst for market growth, potentially turning space stations into profitable business parks that serve research, manufacturing, tourism and entertainment.

By accessing market dynamics, business models, infrastructure requirements and long-term operational strategies, the team concluded that a commercial space station (CSS) could be self-sustaining, with a diverse set of income streams. The development and early operations of the station, however, would need to be backed by a mix of public and private capital, the study indicates.

“Our findings reveal that space-based research will likely be LEO’s most significant revenue generator within the decade, thanks to existing government grants and contracts,” the team writes.

Economic Case for Orbiting Business Parks

The report emphasizes a shift from public-funded infrastructure to hybrid commercial stations anchored by government demand. Current funding programs, such as NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations Program, have already seeded development of stations from Axiom, Blue Origin and Starlab.

The study forecasts that a CSS could generate between $1.5 billion and $3.8 billion annually within a decade. Leading revenue contributors include scientific research, space tourism, and in-space manufacturing. While government agencies are expected to remain core customers, the broader market includes private firms, universities, and even art studios.

Space-based research, currently dominated by NASA programs like the Human Research Program, is projected to remain foundational. But the researchers note that revenue from this activity alone won’t sustain a station, hence the appeal of complementary services such as space tourism, film production, and product development.

Space Tourism, Research, and Manufacturing

Estimates cited in the study suggest that space tourism alone could produce $3.3 billion in annual revenue by the early 2030s. Orbital flights, extra-vehicular activities (spacewalks), accommodations and astronaut training are all components of the tourism economy.

The study anticipates that as launch costs fall — thanks to reusable rockets and spacecraft like SpaceX’s Starship — the number of customers able to afford an orbital experience will increase. While early adopters may be ultra-wealthy thrill-seekers, future phases could include celebrities, researchers, and professionals from creative industries.

In-space manufacturing, including 3D printing and optical fiber production, also features prominently in the study’s roadmap. Microgravity environments can improve material quality and reduce defects in products like fiber optics and semiconductors. These high-margin goods could justify the costs of manufacturing in space if technical hurdles, such as process automation and material handling, are solved.

The Business Model: A Floating Industrial Park

The researchers envision the CSS as a modular, expandable business park in orbit. It would lease space to tenants across sectors — biotech startups, university researchers, tourism operators, film crews — and offer microgravity access, specialized lab setups, and data services.

Key revenue streams include leasing modules, astronaut labor time, branded content opportunities, product licensing, education programs, and event ticketing. For example, filming a feature film in space could generate up to $5 million per production. Virtual reality experiences and livestreamed events from orbit are also on the menu.

A notable proposal involves a dedicated studio module for creative projects. This would offer artists and filmmakers a safe, controlled space to operate in microgravity. The researchers forecast that film productions, VR subscriptions, art sales, and ticketed events could collectively yield $242 million per year.

Risks and Assumptions

Despite the projected revenues, the study acknowledges the possibility of significant risks. The expected operating cost of $2 billion annually — though lower than the ISS — is still steep. Market demand remains uncertain for many proposed activities, especially for newer fields like in-space entertainment or debris recycling.

The analysis assumes that technological maturity (measured by Technology Readiness Levels), legal frameworks, and market stability will keep pace. Assumptions also include sustained launch price declines, stable geopolitical conditions, and no major economic crises, all of which are difficult to guarantee.

Development risks involve construction complexity and the potential for cost overruns, which are common in space projects. Operations carry human risks, including medical emergencies, system failures, or debris strikes, which obviously require robust safety and insurance frameworks.

Environmental and Ethical Frameworks

Beyond economics, the study highlights the importance of implementing environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. Sustainability in space means minimizing orbital debris, ensuring ethical labor practices, and maintaining transparency with investors.

The authors propose a three-phase ESG strategy: first ensuring legal compliance, then integrating sustainability into operations, and finally developing long-term strategies to adapt to risks like climate change and political volatility. They argue this framework could bolster investor confidence and public trust.

The team writes: “By addressing ESG issues proactively, a CSS venture can enhance its reputation, attract
investors, increase stakeholder trust, improve operational efficiency and make better decisions for its long-term success in space.”

Roadmap for the Next Decade

In its recommendations, the study calls for a standardized astronaut selection process to broaden access and reduce bias. It proposes a “space mission toolbox” to help businesses and researchers plan and fund their projects onboard. Technically, it suggests prioritizing modular design to enable low-cost expansion.

On the financial side, the authors see value in combining public-private partnerships, institutional investments, and crowdfunding. They also urge operators to look beyond traditional space customers and tap into global creative markets.

Longer term, the team sees growth areas in artificial gravity systems, orbital medical labs, deep space launch platforms, and spaceport development. All of these could spin out from a CSS in LEO if early market validation succeeds.

“We hope our research will inform future studies and investments in this burgeoning sector,” the researchers add. “By commercializing space activities, we believe there are significant opportunities to advance technology, broaden access to space, and promote international cooperation and collaboration.”

The study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team from the International Space University in France, including Alexandre-Dimosthénis Benas, Dmytro Bilash, Pierfrancesco Chiavetta, Jacinda Cottee, Sílvia Farrás Aloy, Jonathan Farrow, Stirling Forbes, Mirella Gil Natividad, Diego Greenhalgh, Manav Gupta, Laura Morelli, Rowan Moorkens O’Reilly, Anusha Santhosh, Mustafa Shahid, Benjamin Shapiro, Charlotte Pouwels, Carla Tamai, Aoife van Linden Tol, and Eleonora Zanus.

• A joint NASA-KAUST study has identified 26 previously unknown bacterial species in NASA cleanrooms, revealing microbes with genetic traits suited to survive extreme space-like conditions.
• The newly discovered bacteria exhibit genes for radiation resistance, DNA repair, and metabolic adaptability, posing both planetary protection risks and opportunities for biotechnology innovation.
• The findings help inform contamination control for future space missions and suggest potential applications in medicine and food preservation using stress-resistant microbial genes.

PRESS RELEASE — A new study by scientists at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and several institutes across India and Saudi Arabia has reported 26 novel bacterial species growing inside cleanrooms associated with NASA space missions. These unknown and newly described species carry genetic traits associated with resilience to extreme environments such as those found in space, highlighting the importance of rigorous contamination control to prevent unintentional microbial transfer during space missions. The study can be read in Microbiome.

Spacecraft are assembled in cleanrooms, which are highly specialized facilities engineered to maintain exceptionally low levels of dust and microorganisms. These controlled environments are extreme in their own right, with tightly regulated airflow, temperature, and humidity that inhibit microbial survival. However, some microorganisms – extremophiles – thrive in such environments. 

“Our study aimed to understand the risk of extremophiles being transferred in space missions and to identify which microorganisms might survive the harsh conditions of space. This effort is pivotal for monitoring the risk of microbial contamination and safeguarding against unintentional colonization of exploring planets,” explained King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Professor Alexandre Rosado, the lead KAUST researcher on the project and a contributor to several NASA working groups on planetary protection and space microbiology.  

The scientists did a comprehensive analysis of the microorganisms growing in the NASA cleanrooms, finding that many of the new species possessed genes that made them resilient to decontamination and radiation. Some of the discovered genes were associated with DNA repair, the detoxification of harmful molecules, and improved metabolism, all of which increased the species’ survivability. 

Moreover, these genes could lead to new biotechnologies that benefit food preservation and medicine. 

“These findings not only raise important consideration for planetary protection but also open the door for biotechnological innovation,” said Junia Schultz, a postdoctoral fellow at KAUST who was the first author of the study. “Space travel provides an opportunity to study microorganisms that possess relevant stress-resistance genes. The genes identified in these newly discovered bacterial species could be engineered for applications in medicine, food preservation, and other industries.”   

In addition, the study assists NASA with anticipating the type of bacteria astronauts will encounter in their space missions and in developing strategies to mitigate microbial contamination in cleanrooms.  

“KAUST’s collaboration with NASA represents a groundbreaking alliance driving the frontiers of space science and astrobiology,” said Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, retired Senior Research Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a lead author of the study. “Together, we are unraveling the mysteries of microbes that withstand the extreme conditions of space —organisms with the potential to revolutionize the life sciences, bioengineering, and interplanetary exploration. This partnership not only supports Saudi Arabia’s ambitious vision through the Saudi Space Agency but also reinforces KAUST’s emergence as a global leader in microbial and space biology research.” 

• Researchers at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a satellite navigation method using ambient signals from commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations like Starlink and Iridium NEXT.
• The system uses inexpensive wide-beam antennas and a time-frequency inversion algorithm to extract pseudo-range and Doppler measurements, achieving 3.6-meter 2D and 6.2-meter 3D accuracy without relying on proprietary signals.
• The technique, validated in real-world tests, offers a resilient, scalable, and low-cost alternative to traditional GNSS, particularly in obstructed environments, with potential applications in autonomous systems, disaster response, and industrial asset tracking.

A team of researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Sciences claims to have a new method to improve satellite navigation accuracy using ambient signals from commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

According to researchers, the system, which bypasses traditional navigation signals, achieves positioning accuracy within 3.6 meters in 2D and 6.2 meters in 3D using inexpensive wide-beam antennas and a novel time-frequency inversion algorithm.

“This work marks a key step toward accessible, accurate navigation using commercial satellite constellations,” said lead author Dr. Ying Xu in a statement. “By integrating Doppler and pseudo-range measurements and introducing a flexible precision metric, we can now harness Starlink and Iridium NEXT signals for high-precision positioning, even without access to proprietary signal structures. The proposed low-cost architecture opens new possibilities for resilient navigation in GPS-denied environments.”

Traditional Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS face performance issues in obstructed environments like urban canyons or forests, where signal reflections and blockage degrade precision. To address this, the team turned to Signals of Opportunity (SOP), emissions from satellites like Starlink and Iridium NEXT that are not originally designed for navigation but are widely available and increasingly pervasive.

The research, published in the journal Satellite Navigation, introduces a joint pseudo-range and Doppler positioning technique that reconstructs navigation data without relying on real-time satellite ephemeris or clock data. The system uses Low-Noise Block (LNB) wide-beam antennas to simultaneously receive multiple LEO signals. These signals are processed through an algorithm that estimates transmission time and frequency, generating usable pseudo-range and Doppler data.

Real-world testing confirmed the method’s efficacy, even over long baselines. When applied to Starlink Doppler signals, the system reached sub-10-meter positioning. Combining Doppler with Iridium NEXT pseudo-range inputs, the method showed significant performance gains over previous techniques, reducing errors by more than 35%.

The researchers also introduced a new metric, Equivalent Position Dilution of Precision (EPDOP), to measure the accuracy of positioning under various conditions and mixed input types. This allowed for performance evaluation even when the available satellite data was imprecise, as is often the case with public datasets like Two-Line Element sets (TLEs).

The low-cost, low-power architecture offers a viable alternative in environments where GNSS may be compromised or unavailable. The ability to derive accurate navigation data from weak and unstructured SOPs suggests broad utility for autonomous vehicles, drones, disaster response, and industrial asset tracking, researchers propose. With commercial LEO constellations growing rapidly, the method scales easily and could serve as a robust fallback or complement to traditional systems.

• The University of Glasgow has unveiled the world’s first dedicated facility, the NextSpace Testrig, to test materials for in-space manufacturing under simulated space conditions.
• Developed by Dr. Gilles Bailet and backed by the UK Space Agency, the system evaluates structural integrity of 3D-printed materials across extreme vacuum and temperature cycles ranging from -150°C to +250°C.
• The facility aims to prevent debris-causing failures in orbit by stress-testing polymers, ceramics, and metals, supporting the safe advancement of space-based manufacturing and strengthening the UK’s growing role in the global space industry.

A new testing facility in Glasgow could play a critical role in making 3D printing in space safer and more viable.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow‘s James Watt School of Engineering have developed the NextSpace Testrig, the first dedicated platform for testing the structural integrity of materials intended for in-space manufacturing, according to the university.

Funded by the UK Space Agency, the project is led by Dr. Gilles Bailet in collaboration with the Manufacturing Technology Centre. The facility uses a custom-built vacuum chamber that simulates space conditions, cycling between temperatures from -150°C to +250°C. These extreme conditions help assess how 3D-printed polymers, ceramics, and metals hold up under orbital stress.

“3D printing is a very promising technology for allowing us to build very complex structures directly in orbit instead of taking them into space on rockets,” Bailet noted in a press release. “It could enable us to create a wide variety of devices, from lightweight communications antennas to solar reflectors to structural parts of spacecraft or even human habitats for missions to the Moon and beyond.”

In-space manufacturing could transform how space missions are equipped by allowing structures to be built in orbit, reducing payload weight and cost. However, without rigorous testing, the risk of structural failure increases. Imperfections such as microbubbles or weak welds, benign on Earth, could cause parts to shatter in space, the university pointed out. Any resulting debris would contribute to the growing problem of space junk, posing a threat to satellites and spacecraft.

The NextSpace Testrig is designed to mitigate these risks. It applies up to 20 kilonewtons of force to test breakage points and includes an autonomous magazine system to evaluate multiple samples in a single run. The goal is to create a data foundation for setting future safety standards in orbital manufacturing.

“The NextSpace TestRig is open to academic colleagues, researchers and commercial clients from around the world to help them ensure that any materials they plan to 3D print in space will work safely,” Bailet added. “We also expect that the data we’ll be gathering in the years to come, which can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world at the moment, will help regulatory authorities to make safety standards for in-space manufacturing, informed by real-world testing.”

Bailet’s team has also developed a prototype space-ready 3D printer, tested aboard a reduced-gravity aircraft, as part of broader research into additive manufacturing in microgravity.

“We are proud to have supported the University of Glasgow in developing the world’s first facility for testing 3D-printed materials in space-like conditions,” Iain Hughes, Head of the National Space Innovation Programme at the UK Space Agency said in a statement. “This innovation will help to drive UK advancements in space manufacturing, unlocking numerous benefits and meeting the government’s growth ambitions while ensuring safe and sustainable space use.”

• Chinese scientists report they have built and operated the world’s first quantum gyroscope in space, marking a major step toward ultra-precise navigation and space science tools.
• The instrument can detect incredibly small changes in motion — such as tiny shifts in rotation or acceleration that would be impossible to measure with traditional sensors.
• This advance could improve spacecraft guidance and help scientists test theories like Einstein’s general relativity with much greater precision.

A Chinese research team has successfully demonstrated the world’s first cold atom gyroscope operating in space, achieving rotation and acceleration measurement resolutions that could pave the way for next-generation quantum navigation and tests of fundamental physics, according to the team’s news release.

In a paper published in the National Science Review, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences detailed their use of a quantum sensor aboard the China Space Station to achieve unprecedented precision in detecting rotational and acceleration forces. They refer to the results as a milestone in inertial sensing, long dominated by mechanical and optical systems, and could play a critical role in efforts to test Einstein’s theory of general relativity or develop ultra-precise spacecraft guidance systems.

The experiment builds on prior work from missions like NASA’s Gravity Probe B and Italy’s LARES satellite, which used classical gyroscopes and orbital measurements to test relativistic effects such as frame-dragging , a subtle distortion of space-time caused by rotating massive objects. According to the release, while those projects confirmed Einstein’s predictions with accuracies of 19% and 3% respectively, the new effort by China’s Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology signals a shift toward quantum-based instrumentation, which could yield even finer measurements.

Compact Payload, High Precision

At the heart of the Chinese experiment is an atom interferometer — a device that uses the wave-like properties of matter to detect changes in motion with extreme sensitivity. By placing this instrument aboard the China Space Station, researchers capitalized on a low-noise, microgravity environment that allows for longer interference times and greater measurement precision than what is possible on Earth.

The payload, known as the China Space Station Atom Interferometer (CSSAI), was launched in November 2022. Roughly the size of a microwave oven and consuming just 75 watts of power, the compact device uses clouds of rubidium atoms (85Rb and 87Rb) cooled to near absolute zero. The atoms are then split and recombined in a precisely controlled laser setup, creating interference patterns that shift in response to acceleration and rotation.

In their latest analysis, the researchers used the 87Rb atoms to carry out rotational measurements in orbit and developed a new method to correct for distortions in the interference patterns — known as shearing fringes — that can introduce errors. They identified a “magic angle” that, when applied to the laser configuration, cancels out dephasing effects caused by variations in the position and velocity of the atom clouds.

This allowed for a rotation measurement uncertainty better than 3.0×10⁻⁵ radians per second, which, to put in perspective, would be like sensing the slow spin of a coin from over 100 kilometers away. The team reports acceleration resolution better than 1.1×10⁻⁶ meters per second squared. One way to capture the resolution of this advance is that it’s roughly a 100,000 times more sensitive than what a standard smartphone accelerometer can measure.

Long-Term Accuracy and Error Analysis

By integrating data from multiple runs, the long-term rotation measurement resolution improved to 17 micro-radians per second. The results were cross-validated with readings from the China Space Station’s own gyroscope, showing strong agreement and confirming the reliability of the atom interferometer.

To reach this level of precision, the team conducted detailed analyses of various error sources, including laser wavelength fluctuations, timing sequences, magnetic field interference, and imperfections in imaging systems. The study found that small deviations in the shearing angle configuration are among the most significant limiting factors for future quantum gyroscopes in space.

Beyond inertial navigation, the technology has implications for fundamental physics. High-precision gyroscopes like CSSAI could be used to measure frame-dragging and other relativistic effects with greater accuracy than ever before. These kinds of experiments are not just academic exercises — they probe the limits of current physical theories and may help uncover new physics beyond general relativity.

China’s Growing Space-Based Quantum Capabilities

The research also demonstrates China’s growing capability in space-based quantum technologies. While Europe and the United States have conducted related microgravity experiments using drop towers, rockets, and the International Space Station, this is reportedly the first operational cold atom gyroscope deployed in orbit. The CSSAI project reflects China’s increasing investment in dual-use space science that spans both commercial and strategic applications.

The co-corresponding authors of the study — Xi Chen, Jin Wang, and Mingsheng Zhan — point to this achievement as a foundational step toward future quantum inertial sensors that could support autonomous deep-space missions or offer alternative navigation systems independent of GPS.

The next stage of development will likely involve reducing systematic errors even further, scaling the technology to handle more complex motion profiles, and integrating these sensors into more robust space systems. If successful, quantum gyroscopes could eventually replace or complement existing systems in satellites, spacecraft, submarines and other vehicles where traditional sensors reach their limits.

• Venus Aerospace successfully completed the first U.S. flight test of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE), which the company is calling a key milestone in hypersonic propulsion.
• The test demonstrated that Venus’s proprietary RDRE can operate reliably under real-world flight conditions, offering improved efficiency and scalability over traditional rocket engines.
• Designed for integration with Venus’s air-breathing ramjet, the RDRE supports ambitions for Mach 4+ passenger aircraft and positions the company as a leader in the $12B global hypersonics market.

PRESS RELEASE — Venus Aerospace, a Houston-based startup pioneering the future of high-speed flight, announced today it successfully completed the first U.S. flight test of a next-generation rocket engine: a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE). This milestone marks a breakthrough in American aerospace, with a design ultimately aimed at enabling vehicles to travel four to six times the speed of sound from a conventional runway. 

Theorized since the 1980s, a high-thrust RDRE capable of practical application has never been flown in the United States—and possibly anywhere in the world. Today’s test represents the first-ever flight of an American-developed engine of its kind, proving that Venus’s proprietary RDRE—an affordable, compact propulsion system delivering unprecedented efficiency and thrust—can operate under real-world conditions. 

“This is the moment we’ve been working toward for five years,” said Sassie Duggleby, CEO and Co-founder of Venus Aerospace. “We’ve proven that this technology works—not just in simulations or the lab, but in the air. With this milestone, we’re one step closer to making high-speed flight accessible, affordable, and sustainable.”

The demonstration took place at Spaceport America in New Mexico, following a night of heavy winds. On the first flight attempt, Venus’s RDRE successfully launched and flew its engine, validating performance and system integrity under flight conditions. 

“Spaceport America was created to make space history, and Venus Aerospace delivered a milestone moment for hypersonics today,” said Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director, Spaceport America. “Getting a rotating detonation rocket engine to the launch pad is an achievement few thought possible in such a short time. We’re thrilled to host innovators like Venus, whose breakthroughs are redefining what’s possible in spaceflight.”

Compared to traditional rocket engines, RDREs offer improved efficiency and compactness, making them particularly suited for advanced aerospace applications. Venus’s engine is designed to be affordable and scalable for both defense and commercial systems, including future vehicles that could fly passengers from Los Angeles to Tokyo in under two hours.

“This milestone is a testament to what’s possible when engineering rigor meets entrepreneurial urgency,” said Dr. Rodney Bowersox, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University. “Rotating detonation rocket engines have been a scientific curiosity for decades. Venus is showing the world that they aren’t just academically interesting—they’re buildable, testable, and operational under real-world conditions. This is how aerospace innovation should look.”

Venus’s RDRE is also engineered to work with the company’s exclusive VDR2 air-breathing detonation ramjet. This pairing enables aircraft to take off from a runway and transition to speeds exceeding Mach 6, maintaining hypersonic cruise without the need for rocket boosters. Venus is planning full-scale propulsion testing and vehicle integration of this system, moving toward their ultimate goal: the Stargazer M4, a Mach 4 reusable passenger aircraft.

“This milestone proves our engine works outside the lab, under real flight conditions,” added Andrew Duggleby, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. “Rotating detonation has been a long-sought gain in performance. Venus’ RDRE solved the last but critical steps to harness the theoretical benefits of pressure gain combustion. We’ve built an engine that not only runs, but runs reliably and efficiently—and that’s what makes it scalable. This is the foundation we need that, combined with a ramjet, completes the system from take-off to sustained hypersonic flight.”

The global hypersonics market is projected to surpass $12 billion by 2030, driven by demand across defense, aerospace, and commercial aviation sectors. With this successful demonstration, Venus Aerospace is positioned as the world leader of affordable hypersonic systems. With further tests and deliveries to government partners on the horizon, Venus continues its push to restore U.S. leadership in high-speed flight.

Phillip Sarofim, Founding Partner, Trousdale Ventures said: “Venus Aerospace is proving that visionary engineering teams can still build world-changing technology on startup timelines. We’re proud to back founders who are making history and showing the world how hard tech gets built.”

Thomas d’Halluin, Managing Partner, Airbus Ventures, said: “With this flight test, Venus Aerospace is transforming a decades-old engineering challenge into an operational reality. Getting a rotating detonation engine integrated, launch-ready, and validated under real conditions is no small feat. Venus has shown an extraordinary ability to translate deep technical insight into hardware progress, and we’re proud to support their bold approach in their attempt to unlock the hypersonic economy and forge the future of propulsion.”