“Micius”, the First Quantum Communication Satellite Launched by China
Xilin Jiang
Quantum communication is a process by which quantum information can be transmitted from one location to another, with the help of classical communication and previously shared quantum entanglement between the sending and receiving location. Recently, China made the concept of quantum communication into practice.
In Aug.16, 2016, China launched the first quantum communication satellite in the world, named“Micius”, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Micius entered a sun-synchronous orbit, 500 kilometers above the earth and has been circling the earth every 90 minutes.
Micius’s mission is to establish “hack-proof” quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground by using quantum photons, or subatomic particles, which are impossible to wiretap, intercept, hack or crack. Micius sent its first data on Aug. 18. The 202 MB of data was in good quality and was transferred to China’s National Space Science Center. Micius succeeded in its first test to communicate from Beijing to Urumqi, Xinjiang capital on Aug.26, 2016 and set a new distance record for quantum entanglement in space on June 16,2017.
Micius also offers scientists insights into some strange phenomenon in quantum physics. Scientists are allowed to conduct experiments on high-speed quantum key distribution between the satellite and ground stations and explore quantum teleportation for the first time. The quantum satellite also encourages international cooperation. The Chinese team has plans for more satellite experiments, to be conducted in cooperation with Australian researchers. Canada is also working on a quantum satellite. Meanwhile, European and U.S. scientists have talked about sending quantum communication devices to the International Space Station for testing.
The quantum satellite can offer many other benefits. According to the Wall Street Journal, quantum technology can have military applications. Scientists in the United States, Europe and Japan are also trying to use this technology. The quantum communication satellite is also closely related to other areas, like quantum lidar, quantum computing. The quantum communication satellite is expected to apply to daily life as well.
The launch of the first quantum satellite was highly commended around the world. Morris Jones, a scientist who studies the Chinese space program, said that this satellite is a major step forward for China. Chinese scientist also plans to go further. According to Pan Jian-wei, the lead scientist of the project, China plans to launch a second such satellite within the next five years to develop a network based on the quantum technology. China may spend more than tens of billions of dollars supporting the research.