(Photo : Getty Images) China's quantum satellite is designed to provide ‘untraceable’ communication by converting messages into a quantum language before sending them to space.


Quantum space satellite, a satellite under the Chinese space program, is making waves in the country as it is the first satellite to deliver quantum communication in China, according to Chinese state media.



This new innovation is a breakthrough technology and it will be an asset for China's power all over the globe.



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The satellite is designed to provide 'untraceable' communication by converting messages into a quantum language before sending them to space.



Quantum language operates through cryptography, which can only be deciphered with the use of an encryption key. This will be done through an encryption algorithm that can be used to encrypt or decrypt a message.



Quantum encryption's features include quantum entanglement, an act of merging two or more particles into 'quantum states' - this feature is used to ward off potential eavesdroppers.



Once an eavesdropper is detected, quantum states will tend to fall over and alert legitimate parties of the 'spying attempt'. Quantum keys are difficult to decode by theory, but this does mean that it is 100 percent efficient.



Just like other forms of encryption, quantum is prone to inevitable elements such as denial of service, physical tampering, human failures and sender impersonation.



China's Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (otherwise known as QUESS) will be launched in July.



Pan Jianwei, chief scientist, has predicted that QUESS will be the last puzzle to fit into China's expanding quantum communications network.



QUESS's features include the testing of the phenomena of a quantum entanglement. The satellite, weighing 500kg, will consist of a key communicator, quantum entanglement emitter, entanglement source, processing unit and a laser communicator.



QUESS will send transmissions to two ground stations located in China and Europe. The Austrian Academy of Sciences is set to provide the optical receivers for the Europe station.



If this space project is a success, China will create an Asian-European quantum distribution network by 2020 and branch into a global quantum communications network by 2030.




Tagsquantum space satellite, technological breakthrough, china