NASA and Nobel Laureate–Co-founded Infleqtion to Launch World’s 1st Quantum Gravity Sensor into Space

NASA has long used satellites like GRACE and GOCE to map Earth’s gravity, but quantum sensors promise far greater sensitivity. But now, NASA and Infleqtion are collaborating on a groundbreaking mission: the Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf). This will be the world’s first quantum gravity sensor flown to space, marking a major milestone in quantum sensing and Earth science. This mission could pave the way for next-generation Earth observation satellites that detect subtle changes in mass distribution across the planet.

Infleqtion is a pioneering deeptech company specializing in neutral atom quantum technology, founded in 2007 by a team that includes Nobel laureate Theodor Hänsch. With more than 250 employees—over half of them PhD-level scientists and engineers—the company has built one of the world’s largest teams dedicated to advancing quantum computing and sensing.

As a deeptech startup, Infleqtion focuses on long-gestation, science-led innovation that bridges fundamental physics with real-world applications. Its portfolio spans quantum computers, precision sensors, and proprietary software platforms, with use cases in climate monitoring, defense, secure communications, and advanced materials research. Backed by over $311 million in funding and holding more than 230 patents, Infleqtion operates globally across the US, UK, Japan, and Australia, positioning itself as a leader in commercializing quantum breakthroughs for both government and industry.

Quantum sensors can detect the smallest variations in gravitational fields, helping scientists map underground water reserves, track ice sheet changes, and monitor natural resources with unmatched precision.

Infleqtion designed, developed, and tested the Physics Package Assembly (2nd image below this article) for NASA’s Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station. This unique facility cools atoms to near absolute zero in microgravity, creating Bose-Einstein condensates that allow deeper study of quantum behavior and enhanced precision measurement. 

Key Details

A map of Earth’s gravity. Red indicates areas of the world that exert greater gravitational pull, while blue indicates areas that exert less. A science-grade quantum gravity gradiometer could one day make maps like this with unprecedented accuracy. [Credit: NASA] 

• Mission Lead: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Southern California.
• Partner: Infleqtion, a leader in quantum sensing and computing using neutral-atom technology.
• Objective: Deploy a quantum sensor in low Earth orbit (LEO) to measure Earth’s gravitational field and its gradients with unprecedented precision.
• Funding: Over $20 million contracted to date.
• Timeline: Expected launch around 2030.
• Technology: Cold-atom quantum sensing forms the core of the instrument.

Atomic physics package overview, showing a design for a single source gravity gradiometer. The three main regions are: a vapor loaded 2D-MOT, an atom chip for 3D-MOT and BEC generation, and an interferometry region.

Why It Matters

• Scientific Impact: Gravity measurements help track mass dynamics on Earth’s surface — such as ice sheet changes, groundwater depletion, and tectonic activity.
• Applications: Could revolutionize monitoring of climate change, natural resources, and disaster prediction.
• Strategic Value: Positions the U.S. at the forefront of quantum space sensing, a field with both scientific and national security implications.

The QGGPf mission is designed to demonstrate quantum sensor technologies that could transform how Earth’s gravity is measured from space, said Infleqtion in its official statement. The quantum sensor is designed to monitor mass dynamics across the planet’s surface, including changes in water, ice and land, while operating in microgravity, which enables longer interaction times and correspondingly improved measurement sensitivities.

NASA emphasized the mission’s scientific and strategic importance:  

This instrument aboard a dedicated satellite in low Earth orbit will be the first quantum sensor capable of measuring Earth’s gravitational field and its gradients—critical signals used today to monitor mass dynamics on the planet’s surface,” said JPL representatives. “The mission advances U.S. leadership in quantum space sensing and opens new pathways for climate science and resource monitoring.

With more than $20 million in contracted funding and a planned launch around 2030, the QGGPf mission is expected to revolutionize how scientists track climate change, groundwater depletion, ice sheet dynamics, and tectonic activity. It also positions the U.S. at the forefront of quantum-enabled Earth science and national security applications. 

50 Yrs of Climate Change: NASA Image Shows The 'Blue Planet' Has Turned Grey

Half a century ago, Earth was a shimmering marble in the void—a planet so vibrantly blue, its image from space became a symbol of purity, balance, and life. But in the last 50 years, that celestial blue has dimmed, clouded by the scars of human progress. Rising temperatures, poisoned oceans, and vanishing forests—our home has morphed into something unrecognizable.

The Apollo 8 images from 1968 captured Earth in its pristine glory, a vibrant blue sphere untouched by the extreme climate shifts we see today. Meanwhile, NASA's EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) images from 2025 provide a stark contrast, revealing the effects of rising temperatures, pollution, and deforestation.

1968: A pristine, thriving Blue Planet. The beginning of space exploration and hope.

Explore these images here:

• 1968 Apollo 8 Earth View: [See it here]
• 2025 NASA EPIC Earth View: [See it here]

Besides this 1968 photo, the original slide film of the famous 1972 Blue Marble photograph was taken by the Apollo 17 crew on December 7, 1972, during their journey to the Moon. This iconic image, officially designated AS17-148-22727, became one of the most widely distributed photographs in history, showcasing Earth in its full, illuminated glory.

This classic photograph of the Earth was taken on December 7, 1972. 

For a high-quality version of the original slide transparency, explore:

• NASA's archival records: [View here].
• Agent Gallery Chicago, which offers a large transparency slide of the image: [See details]

This image was groundbreaking because it was the first time astronauts could capture the entire Earth, including the South Pole, in a single frame. It remains a powerful reminder of our planet’s beauty and fragility.

The Warning We Ignored

The first murmurs of a climate crisis emerged in the 1970s, when scientists started linking fossil fuel emissions to global temperature rise. Fast forward to today, and their predictions have become stark reality. Glaciers retreat like beaten warriors, islands sink beneath rising tides, and entire species are disappearing before our eyes. The warnings were there, yet humanity plowed ahead, chasing industrial expansion and unchecked consumption.

Oceans: The Fading Blue

2025: A fading, wounded Earth. 50 years of climate change and the fight for survival. (NASA Image taken on 22 April 2025) 

Once a vast cradle of life, our oceans bear the deepest wounds. Nearly 30% more acidic than 50 years ago, their coral reefs bleach into graveyards, unable to withstand relentless temperature spikes. Polluted waters choke marine ecosystems, while plastic islands float aimlessly—monuments to our disregard for nature. What was once Earth's lifeblood has transformed into a struggling, poisoned entity.

Forests: The Vanishing Green

The lungs of our planet are collapsing. The Amazon, once infinite in its stretch, has lost millions of acres. Climate-triggered wildfires ravage Australia and California with apocalyptic force, leaving behind a scorched wasteland. Trees—nature’s most efficient carbon scrubbers—are being erased at an alarming rate, allowing carbon dioxide to fill the air like an invisible plague.

A dramatic comparison between 2000 and 2015 reveals vast areas of forest replaced by roads and plantations.

The Temperature Siege

We've surpassed tipping points once thought unimaginable. The last decade was the hottest in recorded history, with summers stretching longer and fiercer, and winters becoming erratic. As Arctic ice melts, new pathways open for geopolitical ambition, but at a devastating cost—the loss of an ancient ecosystem. Cities once considered safe from climate threats are now battling floods, heatwaves, and resource scarcity.

What Now?

Despite the bleak picture, all is not lost. Renewable energy innovations, ambitious climate agreements, and the relentless fight of environmental activists offer glimpses of hope. Nations are slowly shifting towards greener economies, corporations are being held accountable, and individuals are embracing sustainable habits. The Earth’s wounds are deep, but not irreparable—if we act, if we adapt, if we revolutionize.

The question remains: Will we restore the blue that made Earth the envy of the cosmos, or will we stand idly as it fades to gray?

China Dam Slowing Down Earth's Rotation, Says NASA

The Three Gorges Dam in China had a measurable impact on Earth's rotation, says scientists from the US space agency NASA. The dam spans the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China. It is about 2,335 meters (7,660 feet) long and 185 meters (607 feet) high. The reservoir created by the dam is 600 kilometers (370 miles) long and can hold up to 39.3 cubic kilometers (9.43 cubic miles) of water.

The primary purpose of the dam is to generate electricity. It has an installed capacity of 22,500 megawatts, making it the largest hydroelectric power station in the world.

The massive weight of the water stored in the dam's reservoir has increased Earth's moment of inertia. This means that the distribution of Earth's mass has changed, causing a slight decrease in the speed of Earth's rotation.

As a result, the length of a day has increased by about 0.06 microseconds. While this change is incredibly small and not noticeable in daily life, it is scientifically significant.

 If filled, the dam would hold 40 cubic kilometers (10 trillion gallons) of water. That shift of mass would increase the length of day by only 0.06 microseconds and make the Earth only very slightly more round in the middle and flat on the top. It would shift the pole position by about two centimeters (0.8 inch).

Other Effects

Power Generation: The dam generates a massive amount of electricity, approximately 88.2 billion kWh annually, making it the world's largest hydroelectric power station.

Environmental Impact: The construction and operation of the dam have led to significant environmental changes, including the relocation of over 1.2 million people and the flooding of large.

Future Projects

China is planning to build an even larger dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which could have even more pronounced effects on Earth's rotation and the environment.

It's fascinating how human engineering can have such a profound impact on our planet. 

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos' Mega-Constellation of Satellites Threat to Ozone Layer

The increasing number of satellites and mega-constellations poses a potential risk to Earth's ozone layer. Satellites, when they reach the end of their service life, burn up during reentry into Earth's atmosphere. This process generates aluminum oxides as a byproduct. These aluminum oxides are catalysts for chlorine activation, which leads to ozone depletion in the stratosphere. 

As of today, nearly 10,000 satellites are orbiting the Earth and 75% or two-thirds of these 10,000 belong to SpaceX’s broadband constellation, Starlink.

SpaceX has launched more than 6,000 Starlink satellites to orbit, and the company’s promoter Elon Musk is hoping to build a massive constellation of 42,000 satellites. Besides SpaceX, Jeff Bezos promoted Blue Origin’s Project Kuiper also plans to send 3,000 satellites to space, while Airbus-owned OneWeb wants to build a constellation of 648 satellites.

With knack of competition, China too is working to send out whopping number of about 13,000 satellites in space, that will encircle the Earth in the lower orbit (LEO).

A typical 250-kg satellite can produce around 30 kg of aluminum oxide nanoparticles during its demise. These particles may persist in the atmosphere for decades.

The entire population of satellites reentering the atmosphere in 2022 generated approximately 17 metric tons of aluminum oxide compounds. Mega-constellations could lead to over 360 metric tons of aluminum oxide compounds per year, significantly affecting ozone levels. Byproducts from reentering satellites may take up to 30 years to settle from the mesosphere into the stratospheric ozone layer.

At the end of their short lifespan, the satellites generate pollutants as they fall through the atmosphere. Satellite re-entry produces tiny particles of aluminum oxide, which trigger chemical reactions that destroy the stratospheric ozone, according to the recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters. The oxides don’t react chemically with the molecules of the ozone layer; instead they set off destructive reactions between ozone and chlorine that end up depleting the protective layer in Earth’s atmosphere.

Mitigating the risk of ozone depletion due to satellite reentry involves several strategies including designing satellites with deorbiting mechanisms to ensure controlled reentry at the end of their operational life. This minimizes the risk of uncontrolled disintegration and aluminum oxide release.

Plan for reentry trajectories also minimizes the altitude at which satellites disintegrate. Lower altitudes reduce the chances of aluminum oxide reaching the stratosphere.

In addition, exploring materials other than aluminum for satellite construction. Choosing materials that don't produce harmful byproducts during reentry can help mitigate ozone depletion.

India No.3 in Top-10 Countries with Increasing Forest Areas as per UN Agency

The world has a total forest area of 4.06 billion hectares (ha), which is 31 percent of the total land area. This area is equivalent to 0.52 ha per person – although forests are not distributed equally among the world’s people or geographically.

According to a latest report of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the world has lost a net area of 178 million ha of forest since 1990, which is an area about the size of Libya. More than half (54 percent) of the world’s forests is in only five countries – the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China.

When it comes to average annual net gain in forest area, China, Australia and India are among top-3 countries for period of 2010–2020. However, it is to be noted that there was also a reduction in the rate of gain in South and Southeast Asia; the average annual increase in planted forest area in India, for example, was 365 000 ha in 1990–2000 then => 341 000 ha in 2000–2010, and then => only 49,100 ha 2010–2020.

The rate of net forest loss decreased substantially over the period 1990–2020 due to a reduction in deforestation in some countries, plus increases in forest area in others through afforestation and the natural expansion of forests. The rate of net forest loss declined from 7.8 million ha per year in the decade 1990–2000 to 5.2 million ha per year in 2000–2010 and 4.7 million ha per year in 2010–2020.

The rate of decline of net forest loss slowed in the most recent decade due to a reduction in the rate of forest expansion.

Bamboo Plantation

The total area of bamboo increased by almost 50 percent between 1990 and 2020 (Figure 13), largely because of increases in China and India.

Govt and Local/Tribal Managed Forests -

In Asia, the area of public forest managed by public administrations decreased and the area managed by local, tribal and indigenous communities increased, due largely to India and the implementation of joint forest management (a participatory management regime involving the government and local communities in the regeneration and management of degraded forests). 

The forest area managed by local, tribal and indigenous communities in India increased from zero in 1990 to about 25 million ha in 2015.