The CAL quantum research hardware on the International Space Station is being upgraded via the NG-24 cargo mission, enabling advanced ultracold atom experiments in microgravity.

This collaboration signals a broader push toward commercial low-Earth orbit operations and a transition of quantum sensing toward space-based and aerospace applications.

The mission validates neutral-atom technology in real space conditions and serves as a stepping stone for future space-based quantum capabilities and sensors.

Infleqtion’s full-stack approach, including the Superstaq software platform, is used by government agencies to help transition quantum-enabled infrastructure from lab to orbit.

For those seeking more detail, Infleqtion’s official press release and NASA’s CRS-24 mission overview provide the technical context and broader mission details.

The CAL upgrade aims to enhance in-orbit atom populations and ultracold conditions, unlocking new capabilities in navigation, Earth monitoring, and critical infrastructure resilience.

The ISS’s microgravity environment enables longer observation times and improved cooling, boosting precision for Earth monitoring, environmental sensing, and inertial navigation technologies.

Microgravity also reduces disturbances, allowing longer, more stable experiments for fundamental physics and sensing applications.

Infleqtion has supplied CAL physics packages since 2018 and supports NASA’s Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder, positioning neutral-atom technology for broader aerospace and defense use as ISS moves toward commercial operations.

Infleqtion maintains a space-based quantum track with ongoing upgrades and collaboration with NASA/JPL, reinforcing its role as the first quantum tech company to deploy a quantum physics package in space.

The upgrade enables dual-species quantum gases with rubidium and potassium, aiming for record ultracold temperatures and longer, more stable in-orbit experiments.