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Using Pulsars For Spacecraft Navigation

Posted by samzenpus on from the where-are-we? dept.

Jimme Blue writes "The use of pulsars as a GPS analogue holds the promise of fixing a spacecraft's location to within 5 km, anywhere in the galaxy. While not ready for immediate use, it may be ready for use within the Solar System in the next 10-15 years. From the article: '"The principle is so simple that it will definitely have applications," said Prof Werner Becker from the Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching. "These pulsars are everywhere in the Universe and their flashing is so predictable that it makes such an approach really straightforward," he told BBC News.'"

4 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Visibility is an issue by busyqth · · Score: 5, Funny

    even within a galaxy, it's probably a good reference. But that's definitely a risky method if you start moving out of the galactic plane.

    Now that's too bad because I was planning on moving out of the galactic plane sometime later this year.

  2. Re:Take Jersey Shore with you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Take Jersey Shore with you

  3. Re:Too Late. by busyqth · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes. I patented that plaque.

  4. Re:Too Late. by vlm · · Score: 1, Funny

    As a guy, that plaque shows space is very, very cold. Its actually smaller than his little finger. Poor guy must be a SUV driver for sure.

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger