Grants and Contributions

The project will upgrade the Two-meter Twin Telescope TTT in the Canary Islands to serve as quantum optical ground stations for secure satellite-to-ground communications. This includes adaptive tracking, precision optics, and a quantum key distribution QKD stack integrated with a QEYnet satellite.

Satellites are critical infrastructure in our technologically advancing world. Daily, we use satellites to navigate, predict weather, and communicate. A successful cyberattack against space infrastructure could be devastating to modern society. To prevent such an attack, satellites encrypt their communications using keys loaded before launch. If those keys are compromised after launch, there is no way to load new keys. QEYnet is developing a solution to this problem using quantum key distribution (QKD). In QKD, keys are sent to the satellite using photons. Due to the laws of quantum mechanics, any attempt at eavesdropping on a QKD system can be detected, making the keys highly secure. QEYnet has developed a lowcost,
space based QKD receiver. A test flight of this technology will enable evaluation of
system performance in the target environment, demonstration of on-orbit rekeying, demonstration of key distribution between locations on Earth, and customer trials with this cutting-edge technology.

The primary objective of the project is to adapt QEYnet’s existing terrestrial QTx design for use in space. Over the course of the project, QEYnet will modify the design of the QTx, manufacture an engineering model system, verify its performance, and subject it to a series of tests.

The expected deliverables for this project are:
a. A completely redesigned optical and mechanical front-end
b. An engineering model QRx-35 to be used for functional and performance testing purposes
c. A completed test campaign and associated test reports including conclusions and lessons learned
d. A prioritized list of design enhancements arising from the test campaign and a plan to address them.

Satellites are critical infrastructure in our technologically advancing world. Daily, we use satellites to navigate, predict weather, and communicate. A cyberattack against space infrastructure could be devastating to modern society. To prevent such attack, satellites encrypt their communications using keys loaded before launch. If those keys are compromised after launch, there is no way to load new ones.

QEYnet has developed a low-cost solution to this problem using quantum key distribution (QKD). In QKD, keys are sent to the satellite using photons. Due to the laws of quantum mechanics, any attempt at eavesdropping on a QKD system can be detected, making the keys highly secure. A test flight of this technology will enable evaluation of system performance in the target environment, demonstration of on-orbit rekeying, and demonstration of key distribution between locations on Earth.

Satellites are critical infrastructure in our technologically advancing world. Daily, we use satellites to navigate, predict weather, and communicate. A successful cyberattack against space infrastructure could be devastating. To prevent such attack, satellites encrypt their communications using keys loaded before launch. If those keys are ever compromised after launch to space, there is no way to load new keys.

QEYnet is developing a solution to this problem using a technology called quantum key distribution (QKD). In QKD, keys are sent to the satellite using photons. Due to the laws of quantum mechanics, any attempt at eavesdropping on a QKD system can be detected, making the keys highly secure.

Though QKD does hold incredible promise, imperfections in the QKD hardware can result in unintended security vulnerabilities. This project will further advance QEYnet’s testing of novel countermeasures to these vulnerabilities, and advance QEYnet’s QKD technology toward commercial readiness.

This project will design and derisk a photon transmission source that can be used to perform Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) between Earth and a spacecraft carrying a corresponding receiver.

This project aims to implement a critical component of an innovative encryption key distribution solution which utilizes Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). QEYnet has developed an implementation of QKD specifically to operate in the context of a space environment, where it facilitates the deployment of new encryption keys to orbiting satellites with security assured by the fundamental laws of quantum physics.

(20STDPL16) To prevent cyberattack, satellite communications are often encrypted using encryption keys loaded onto the satellite before launch. Should keys be compromised, it is impossible to load new keys onto a satellite in orbit.

QEYnet is developing a solution to this issue using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology, in which encryption keys are sent from the ground to the satellite as a stream of individual photons. By the laws of quantum mechanics, any attempt at eavesdropping on a QKD system can be detected, so the encryption keys produced are highly secure.

However, deviations in real hardware from the theoretical ideal can result in unintended side-channels and vulnerabilities, exposing QKD to attack. This project will test a novel system of countermeasures addressing these vulnerabilities, enabling a rapid transition of the QKD technology toward commercial readiness.

Robust satellite encryption benefits every Canadian.