China successfully launched the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QuESS), the world's first quantum satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest Gobi Desert on Monday, August 15, 2016. The satellite launch is an attempt by China to develop the technology of communications systems that secure from hacking.
 |
| China launched the first-ever quantum-communication satellite, known as QUESS, atop a Long March-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Aug. 15, 2016 (Aug. 15 local time). (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dSQHv) |
In a mission for two years, QuESS will build a quantum communication systems transmit data from space to Earth in the form of subatomic particles and researching more about the strange phenomena in quantum physics, namely quantum entanglement.
Quantum communication has super high security because of quantum photon can not be separated or duplicated. That caused the tapping, interception or destruction of information which sent over the quantum photon becomes impossible.
 |
| China's first-ever quantum-communication satellite, known as QuESS. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dSQnf) |
Many countries have tried hard to make a reality of quantum communication, but China became the first country to do so. With a weight of over 600 kg, QuESS would circle the Earth every 90 minutes after entering the Sun's synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km.
The satellite is also dubbed "Micius", such as the names of scientists and philosophers of China, known as the first man in history to conduct optical experiments.
"As well as the Galileo satellites and the Kepler space telescope , we named our first quantum satellite with the name of famous scientist. We hope it can promote and increase confidence in Chinese culture," said Pan Jianwei, chief of QuESS project scientists team. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | XINHUANET | SPACE.COM]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone
