The new Cold Atom Lab (CAL) facility is among the cargo launching to the International Space Station on the Orbital ATK CRS-9 mission. The Cold Atom Lab could help answer some big questions in modern physics. CAL produces clouds of atoms that are ten billion times colder than deep space. The facility uses lasers and magnetic forces to freeze the atoms until they are almost motionless. In the microgravity environment on the space station, it’s possible to observe these ultra-cold atoms for much longer in than what’s possible on the ground. The research done using CAL could potentially lead to a number of improved technologies, including sensors, quantum computers and atomic clocks used in spacecraft navigation. Read more at: https://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov/
