Infleqtion (NYSE: INFQ), in collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has provided an upgraded physics package to the International Space Station (ISS) via the Northrop Grumman-24 (NG-24) cargo mission. This hardware update is designed for the Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL), the first continuously functioning quantum research facility in orbit. The new package aims to facilitate record-breaking atom populations and record ultracold temperatures in microgravity. These enhanced conditions allow for the creation and study of simultaneous dual-species quantum gases—specifically rubidium and potassium atoms—which is a primary scientific objective for advanced space-based research.
The microgravity environment of the ISS provides a uniquely stable platform for quantum systems, allowing atoms to be cooled and observed for significantly longer durations than is possible under Earth’s gravitational influence. By advancing ultracold atom sensing in orbit, the mission seeks to improve the precision of technologies used for Earth monitoring, environmental sensing, and inertial navigation. These developments are intended to support critical infrastructure resilience and provide a deeper understanding of the fundamental forces governing particle interactions. The NG-24 mission serves as a validation point for the reliability of neutral-atom technology in real-world space operating conditions.
Infleqtion has been a long-term provider of physics packages for the CAL program since 2018 and is also supporting NASA’s Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder mission, which aims to deploy the world’s first quantum gravity sensor in orbit. As the ISS moves toward a transition into commercial low-Earth-orbit operations over the next decade, Infleqtion is positioning its neutral-atom solutions for broader applications across the aerospace and defense sectors. The company’s full-stack approach, which includes its Superstaq software platform, is currently utilized by various government agencies, including the U.S. Department of War and the U.K. government, to accelerate the transition of quantum-enabled infrastructure from laboratory to orbit.
For the official technical announcement regarding the NG-24 cargo mission and the CAL physics package upgrade, consult the Infleqtion press release here. A detailed overview of the mission’s objectives and the broader Northrop Grumman CRS-24 resupply effort can be found via NASA’s official mission portal here.
April 9, 2026
Leave A Comment