Хоча більшість організацій нині зосереджуються на використанні квантових технологій у сфері космічних комунікацій, the appearance of full-fledged quantum computers in orbit in the near future should not be expected. Even with the progress in development on Earth, it will be a long time, before such systems can become a real computing resource for space.
Instead, active work is underway to create quantum key distribution systems (Quantum Key Distribution, QKD), which provide ultra-reliable information transmission thanks to the properties of quantum mechanics. Such systems make it possible to instantly identify any attempt to interfere or intercept a signal.
The European company SES leads the consortium, which is preparing to test QKD technology on the Eagle-1 satellite, the launch of which is scheduled for 2026 year. The project aims to increase the level of cyber security in the financial sphere, public sector and critical infrastructure. At the same time, ground terminals are already being updated on Earth, necessary for testing the system within the next year.
Another promising direction is the development of a quantum gravity gradiometer, which is led by specialists from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Space Flight Center named after. Goddard. This instrument is capable of measuring gravitational fields with precision, which exceeds the capabilities of classical methods by several orders of magnitude.
So, although quantum computers are not yet ready for space missions, quantum technologies are already finding real use in providing secure communications and ultra-precise measurements, which opens up new opportunities for future space exploration.
Source: https://spacenews.com