Insider Brief:
PRESS RELEASE — In a recent release, the Canadian Space Agency announced over CA$1.4 million (approximately over $970,000) in funding to QEYnet, based in Maple, Ontario, to advance the development and demonstration of Earth-to-space quantum key distribution technology. This follows the CSA’s announcement of opportunity released in August 2022 and intends to address pressing security challenges in satellite communication.
Satellites are highly relevant within the infrastructure of modern society, supporting essential services such as navigation, weather forecasting, and communication. Current satellite encryption methods rely on cryptographic keys installed prior to launch. However, these keys cannot be updated once a satellite is in orbit, leaving systems vulnerable if keys are compromised. With the development of quantum computers, existing encryption methods may become outdated, increasing the risk of cyberattacks.
To address these concerns, QEYnet is developing quantum key distribution technology, which uses the quantum properties of photons to create encryption keys. A key advantage of QKD is its ability to detect eavesdropping attempts, as any interception or measurement of a photon’s quantum state will disturb it, alerting the communicating parties. This feature may provide a level of security unmatched by classical encryption methods, which rely on complex mathematical algorithms that could become vulnerable with the continued development of quantum computing.
The upcoming demonstration of QEYnet’s QKD technology will involve space-based testing to assess its performance. Specifically, the project will focus on:
This funding announcement is part of the the Canadian Space Agency’s effort to support innovation in the nation’s growing space sector. Originally introduced in August 2022 through the “Space Technology Demonstrations for SMEs, Not-for-Profit Organizations and Universities” initiative, the program was designed to encourage the research and development of space technologies that could gain flight heritage and demonstrate new capabilities.
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