China
successfully launched the world's first quantum satellite from the
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gobi Desert at 1:40
a.m. on Tuesday. In a cloud of smoke, the satellite, Quantum
Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), roared into the dark sky on top
of a Long March-2D rocket. The 600-plus-kilogram satellite will
circle the Earth once every 90 minutes after it enters a
sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers. It is
nicknamed "Micius," after a fifth century B.C. Chinese
philosopher and scientist who has been credited as the first one in
human history conducting optical experiments.
In its
two-year mission, QUESS is designed to establish "hack-proof"
quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to
the ground, and provide insights into the strangest phenomenon in
quantum physics -- quantum entanglement. Quantum communication boasts
ultra-high security as a quantum photon can neither be separated nor
duplicated. It is hence impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the
information transmitted through it. With the help of the new
satellite, scientists will be able to test quantum key distribution
between the satellite and ground stations, and conduct secure quantum
communications between Beijing and Xinjiang's Urumqi.
QUESS, as
planned, will also beam entangled photons to two earth stations,
1,200 kilometers apart, in a move to test quantum entanglement over a
greater distance, as well as test quantum teleportation between a
ground station in Ali, Tibet, and itself.
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