Final answer:
The author develops the point that atomic clocks are better than quartz crystal clocks for space navigation by comparing and contrasting their stability and accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author develops the point that atomic clocks are better than quartz crystal clocks for space navigation by comparing and contrasting the stability and accuracy of both types of clocks.
Quartz crystal clocks, while commonly used in everyday applications, are not very stable by space navigation standards. They can be off by a nanosecond after just an hour and can be off by a millisecond after six weeks, resulting in significant distance errors.
On the other hand, atomic clocks combine a quartz crystal oscillator with an ensemble of atoms to achieve much greater stability. NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock, for example, is off by less than a nanosecond after four days and less than a microsecond after 10 years. This level of precision and stability is crucial for measuring the position of fast-moving spacecraft accurately.