A Long Term Approach on Quantum Computing for Deep Space Explorations

Mohammed Woyeso Geda, Yuk Ming Tang

Islam, Ray

Enrico Prati, Antonio Mandarino, Pietro Torta +1 more

Philip Andriola

Quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize the space and rocket industries, offering groundbreaking advancements that will reshape space exploration and help achieve the long term goal of Martian colonization. Quantum computing possesses the power to overcome some of the biggest hurdles in modern space exploration such as resource allocation, astronaut health, sustainable rocketry, life support systems, and dependable autonomous operations. Despite its promise, quantum computing faces significant obstacles such as scalability, error correction ability, and the inherent sensitivity of quantum systems. This paper reviews the fundamental components of quantum computers and investigates its implications in multiple aspects of space exploration and Martian colonization. Numerous studies are examined, focusing on quantum computing for objectives such as trajectory optimization, environmental simulations for habitats on Mars, molecular simulations for pharmaceuticals in space, and adaptive machine learning and AI for autonomous operations. Past research suggests that while quantum computing does have promising implications for the future of humans in space and on Mars, its practical implementation and application remains a distant goal.

Tobias Stollenwerk

Ding Wang, Vadim Vladimirovich Davydov

New trends in the development of navigation systems and the tasks to be solved using global navigation satellite systems, as well as the creation of the basis for deep space exploration have forced changes in the requirements for quantum frequency standards, especially in terms of frequency stability without communication sessions with the Earth. The corresponding new requirement quantum frequency standard is the quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions. This is now the most promising frequency standard for space systems, especially for deep space exploration. To determine the directions of modernization of the design of the quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions (by the new requirements), we collected and summarized information about the current research of the quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions in different countries of the world (USA, Russia, European Union, and China). For the first time, we performed an extended analysis comparing the characteristics of different models of quantum frequency standard on mercury-199 ions, which differ mainly in the ion traps and light sources for the excitation of mercury-202. The analysis of the technical characteristic of the quantum frequency standard on the mercury-199 ions, as well as our data on calculations of ion trap design with different electrode configurations, showed that long-term stability (105s) of the USA and Chinese models is an order of magnitude higher than that of the Russian and European Union models. The data are comparable in terms of short-term stability at the initial stage of operation. This confirmed our calculations from the parameters of the traps on the effect of electrode fabrication technologies on frequency stability. At present, this problem has not received adequate consideration in the world.