The mini-satellite sends an encrypted quantum message
In China scientists have transmitted a record of 12,900 miles. Anywhere on the Earth opened the path to quantum messaging

Represented before booting the refrigerator satellite jinan-1, 2022.
Researchers have broken the remote registration in quantum communication, sending a key secret encryption from China to South Africa, using a cheap and light-microsatellite.
The satellite could send the laser light pulses, placed special quantum states, from the roof of the University of Stolenbosch University, next to Cape Town. Places formed Quantum key used to encrypt two images – One of the great walls of China and a part of Stellenbosch campus. The feat, Kuche Keche distribution (QKD) is a kind of encryption known as the two distant locations capable of sending ult-safe messages. It was Describe in nature March 19th.
Jinan-1 satellites called ten times lighter, 45 times is more effective than cheaper and its previous one. MICIUS, which launched in 2016He directed Jian-Wei Pan, quantum physicist, Hefei, Chinese Science and Technology University.
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The Pan team also took up to 100 kg of 100 kg to the ground station. “We want to improve technology from a principle really practical and useful”, “he noted. The pan is added to the China Telecommunications Telecommunications based on PIt for commercial applications in 2026 in 2026.
“This is another milestone in the development of a global QKD network,” says Alexander Ling, quantum physicist at the National University of Singapore. The satellite is a “important progress”, expanding a real-time encryption step, Katanya Kuncak, Qubo Consulting, Canada, Canada-based companies, companies that help other companies take quantum technologies.

Researchers encrypted these two images using a quantum key that emitted from China to South Africa.
University of China Science and Technology
Unspecified codes
Physicists believe that future quantum computers It can break a lot of encryption typesBut techniques like QKD “Read confidential responses to full security computers,” says Ling.
QKD is already used by banks and governments to convey fiber optic keys. But these cables absorb photos, limiting the distance that the signals are capable of traveling. Because light is absorbed at a lower rate than a lower rate than in a fiber optic cable. Satellites can act as a relay as two secrets to send the planet almost anywhere.
Quantum encryption is about idea, if they share a secret key for two parties, they can access a message alone.
Sending PAN experiments in a “superposition” indicating 1 or 0, comparing the settings used by the sender, using the recipients to measure the pulses, both parties can make a selection measured 1s or 0s as a secure key. If an enessus tries to detect the message, this disturbs quantum states and creates noise, revealing that the key is compromised.
Faster communication
Jinan-1 includes “spectacular technological achievements”, it is a member of the science team, a quantum science and science satellite, QKD satellite is to be launched next year from Canadian space agencies. Communication between the Earth and the satellite is faster than previous systems, which accelerates encryption, says. The team was able to reduce the satellite, giving two jobs to two jobs, giving notice of pan, for example, using just a part of the kit, both to achieve the ray and control the guidance of the satellite.
However, Jinan-1 cannot be able to do everything that his predecessors knew. Does not “deceive” photons produce what would enable Types of encryptions that hide the key from satellite. The current system processes the Jinan-1 key, “and Evadropper can learn the secret key (if the satellite had hacked,” Kuntu says. The entangle will also be required Connect quantum computers around the world as part of a quantum Internet. Miniating entangling technology is more difficult, but the development of microsatellites with such equipment will be “completely feasible” in the future, says the pan.
They are preparing a dozen quantum satellites around the world, Ling is the creator of SpeqTral, the creator of SpeQral, in Singapore satellites, even less than Jinan-1 and lighter. “This area is seeing investment and activity of activity, companies and organizations begin to study the possibility of a global QKD network,” he noted.
This article reproduces with permission and has been First posted On March 19 2025.