Moon’s darkest craters could host laser system for navigation and timing tech

Researchers propose placing an ultrastable laser in the Moon’s permanently shadowed south-pole craters.

The laser, locked to an optical silicon cavity, could provide a highly stable navigation and timing reference.

Such a system could support a lunar positioning network, improve landings and communications, and aid precision science.

The idea, outlined by Jun Ye and colleagues in PNAS, takes advantage of the Moon’s extreme cold and vacuum.