Ancient Maritime Tech Reaches Orbit: How the 300-Year-Old Sextant Could Save Mars Missions

As humanity prepares for long-duration missions to Mars and beyond, space agencies are reviving the use of the sextant, a navigational instrument dating back to the 18th century. Originally used by sailors to find their way across oceans, this tool provides a reliable, low-tech backup for astronauts if sophisticated electronic navigation systems fail. By measuring the angles between stars and other celestial markers, such as asteroids, crews can manually calculate their position in the void. This blend of historic methodology and futuristic exploration ensures that even in the event of a total technical blackout, spacefarers have a proven way to navigate home.