Microsatellite-based real-time quantum key distribution

Yang Li, Wen-Qi Cai, Ji-Gang Ren, Chao-Ze Wang, Meng Yang, Liang Zhang, Hui-Ying Wu, Liang Chang, Jin-Cai Wu, Biao Jin, Hua-Jian Xue, Xue-Jiao Li, Hui Liu, Guang-Wen Yu, Xue-Ying Tao, Ting Chen, Chong-Fei Liu, Wen-Bin Luo, Jie Zhou, Hai-Lin Yong, Yu-Huai Li, Feng-Zhi Li, Cong Jiang, Hao-Ze Chen, Chao Wu, Xin-Hai Tong, Si-Jiang Xie, Fei Zhou, Wei-Yue Liu, Yaseera Ismail, Francesco Petruccione, Nai-Le Liu, Li Li, Feihu Xu, Yuan Cao, Juan Yin, Rong Shu, Xiang-Bin Wang, Qiang Zhang, Jian-Yu Wang, Sheng-Kai Liao (), Cheng-Zhi Peng () and Jian-Wei Pan ()
Additional contact information
Yang Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Wen-Qi Cai: University of Science and Technology of China
Ji-Gang Ren: University of Science and Technology of China
Chao-Ze Wang: University of Science and Technology of China
Meng Yang: University of Science and Technology of China
Liang Zhang: University of Science and Technology of China
Hui-Ying Wu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Liang Chang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jin-Cai Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Biao Jin: Quantum CTek Co. Ltd
Hua-Jian Xue: University of Science and Technology of China
Xue-Jiao Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Hui Liu: Quantum CTek Co. Ltd
Guang-Wen Yu: University of Science and Technology of China
Xue-Ying Tao: University of Science and Technology of China
Ting Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chong-Fei Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Wen-Bin Luo: University of Science and Technology of China
Jie Zhou: Quantum CTek Co. Ltd
Hai-Lin Yong: Quantum CTek Co. Ltd
Yu-Huai Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Feng-Zhi Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Cong Jiang: Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology
Hao-Ze Chen: CAS Quantum Network Co. Ltd
Chao Wu: CAS Quantum Network Co. Ltd
Xin-Hai Tong: Beijing Electronics Science and Technology Institute
Si-Jiang Xie: Beijing Electronics Science and Technology Institute
Fei Zhou: Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology
Wei-Yue Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Yaseera Ismail: Stellenbosch University
Francesco Petruccione: Stellenbosch University
Nai-Le Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Li Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Feihu Xu: University of Science and Technology of China
Yuan Cao: University of Science and Technology of China
Juan Yin: University of Science and Technology of China
Rong Shu: University of Science and Technology of China
Xiang-Bin Wang: Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology
Qiang Zhang: University of Science and Technology of China
Jian-Yu Wang: University of Science and Technology of China
Sheng-Kai Liao: University of Science and Technology of China
Cheng-Zhi Peng: University of Science and Technology of China
Jian-Wei Pan: University of Science and Technology of China

Nature, 2025, vol. 640, issue 8057, 47-54

Abstract: Abstract A quantum network1–3 provides an infrastructure that connects quantum devices with revolutionary computing, sensing and communication capabilities. A quantum satellite constellation offers a solution to facilitate the quantum network on a global scale4,5. The Micius satellite has verified the feasibility of satellite quantum communications6–9; however, scaling up quantum satellite constellations is challenging, requiring small lightweight satellites, portable ground stations and real-time secure key exchange. Here we tackle these challenges and report the development of a quantum microsatellite capable of performing space-to-ground quantum key distribution using portable ground stations. The microsatellite payload weighs approximately 23 kilograms, and the portable ground station weighs about 100 kilograms, representing reductions by more than 1 and 2 orders of magnitude, respectively. Using this set-up, we demonstrate satellite-based quantum key distribution with multiple ground stations and achieve the sharing of up to 1.07 million bits of secure keys during a single satellite pass. In addition, we multiplex bidirectional satellite–ground optical communication with quantum communication, enabling key distillation and secure communication in real time. Also, a secret key, enabling one-time pad encryption of images, is created between China and South Africa at locations separated by over 12,900 kilometres on Earth. The compact quantum payload can be readily assembled on existing space stations10,11 or small satellites12, paving the way for a satellite-constellation-based quantum and classical network for widespread real-life applications.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08739-z

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