Cold atom experiments aboard the International Space Station*

Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are expected to be systems for quantum sensing applications like navigation, relativistic geodesy and tests of the universality of free fall. The sensitivity of most such atom interferometers increases quadratically with the interrogation time, which makes it beneficial to extend the free fall time. To accomplish this goal NASA has launched the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) [1] to the International Space Station.

Here we report on recent experiments performed on CAL. We have realized fast and reliable quantum gas transport protocols, matter wave lensing to picokelvin temperature [2], several interferometer geometries, as well as mixture experiments. Furthermore, we discuss current limitations as well as prospective future experiments on CAL. These results pave the way towards future precision measurements with BECs in space.