Although scientists track spacecraft through the solar system from stations here on Earth, it's difficult, expensive, and gets less accurate as you go farther from Earth.

In the very near future, a galactic positioning system could put a probe in orbit around a far-distant moon, or save the lives of astronauts lost in space.

This could form the basis of a high-precision lunar positioning system. “The goal is to ensure that spacecraft can land within a few metres of their intended destination,” Patla says. They also ...