GroupContributors: Kareena, Angelina, Asael, Israel, and Monagoz
QC Missions:
- Demonstrate and validate quantum communication capabilities in-space
- Develop secure communication networks using QKD (quantum key distribution)
- Contribute towards the development of long-range in-space communication
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- Optical Terminal
- Primary Aperture/Telescope
- Fine Steering Mirror
- Coarse Pointing mechanism
- Beacon System
- Classical Beacon Laser
- Photodiode or Position-Sensitive Detector
- Dedicated Star Tracker
ADCS Sensors
- Required ADCS Sensors
- Star Trackers
- Sun Sensors
- Magnetometer
- IMU
- GPS Receiver
- Required Actuators
- Reaction Wheels
- Magnetorquers
Detector Instrumentation
- Single-Photon Detectors
- Si-APDs
- SNSPDs
- Filtering and Optics
- Narrow Board Optical Filters
- Polarization Analyzers
- Half-Wave Plates or Polarization Beam Splitters Fiber Coupling Optics
Timing and Synchronization Instrumentation
- Onboard Timing Components
- Chip-Scale Atomic Clock
- High-Precision Time-Tagging Electronics
- GPS Disciplined Oscillator
- Classical Communication Systems
- S-Band or X-Band Transmitter
- UHF/VHF
Thermal Monitoring and Control Sensors
- High-Accuracy Thermistors
- Temperature Sensors on Laser and Crystal
- Radiators + Heaters
Spacecraft Bus Sensors
- Voltage/Current Sensors
- Battery Temperature and Pressure Sensors
- Solar Panel Telemetry Sensors
- Internal Environmental Sensors
Ground Segment Instrumentation
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- Photon Source (BB84 or decoy-state) - ($80k - $200k)
- SPDC Entangled Source - ($150k - $350k)
- Nonlinear crystal + Temp Control - ($20k - $60k)
- Quantum Optics Bench - ($30k - $120k)
- Single-Photon Detectors - ($40k - $120k)
- Time Tagging Electronics - ($10k - $50k)
- Optical Filtering/Fiber Coupling - ($10k - $50k)
Optical/Pointing Paylod ($120k - $350k)
- Telescope Assembly - ($40k - $120k)
- Fine-Steering Motor - ($20k - $80k)
- Beacon Laser - ($10k - $40k)
- Beacon Camera - ($10k - $25k)
- Optomechanical Platform - ($30k -$90k)
- Precision Alignment and Calibration - ($10k - $30k)
Satellite Bus (6U) - ($200k - $350k)
- 6U Structure - ($20k - $50k)
- Integrated Bus Platform - ($100k - $200k)
- Wiring Harness and Connectors - ($5k - $10k)
- Thermal Control Hardware - ($10k - $30k)
- Deployables - ($20k - $60k)
ADCS - ($90k - $180k)
- High-Sccuracy Star Tracker - ($25k - $60k)
- IMU + Gyros - ($10k - $30k)
- Reaction Wheels - ($20k - $50k)
- Magnetorquers - ($5k - $10k)
- ADCS Computer/Software - ($10k - $30k)
- Integration and Poiting Calibration - ($20k - $40k)
Power System - ($30k - $80k)
- EPS Module - ($15k - $30k)
- Batteries - ($10k - $20k)
- Body-Mounted Solar Panels - ($15k - $40k)
- Deployable Solar Panels - ($20k - $50k)
Comms - ($15k - $40k)
- UHF/VHF TT&C Radio - ($5k - $15k)
- S-Band or X-Band Downlink System - ($10k - $25k)
- Antenna System - ($5k - $10k)
- Ground Station Compatibility - ($5k - $10k)
OBC - ($15k - $40k)
- Flight Computer - ($10k - $25k)
- Data-Handling Electronics - ($5k - $10k)
- Software Development - ($5k - $20k)
Testing & Integration - ($40k - $150k)
- Vibration and Shock Testing - ($20k - $60k)
- Thermal-Vac Testing - ($20k - $50k)
- Optical Alignment and Cal - ($10k - $40k)
Ground Segment ($150k - $500k)
- Optical Ground station - ($150k - $350k)
- Upgraded Performance Station - ($300k - $600k)
- RF Ground Station Updates - ($10k = $40k)
Total: Min(~1.16M) - Max(~3.45M)
*This is not necessarily accurate, we need to look into this project more (might be on the higher end)
QUARC: Quantum Research Cubesat—A Constellation for Quantum Communication
https://arxiv.org/abs/1704.08707
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- 2U allocated to electrical power system (EPS), communications (COMMS), attitude determination and control systems (ADCS), and an on-board computer (OBC)
- 1U for quantum source
- 3U for transmission optics
Payload Compatibility:
| Feature | 6U Cubesat |
|---|---|
| Payload Volume | 1U (quantum source parts) |
| Mass Budget | SPEQS-2 (entangled photon source) 500 g |
| Power Budget | orbit averaged power 11 W assuming 80% sun-tracking efficiency |
| Instrument Performance | --- |
| Data downlink | X-band CubeSat transmitters provide up to 100 Mb/s data rate |
Reasons to pursue:
Current space communication systems are fiber-based and only offer short-range communications. While there are optical/laser communication alternatives they are constrained by limited sightlines. Also, with the rise of critical and valuable data transmissions, there is a need for secure, and safe communication systems which will be enabled by QKD (quantum key distribution) in these quantum communication networks. Through this mission, we will be able to validate long-range communication networks that are also secure and efficient for future applications.
Cubesats offer the possibility of validating such a technology with quicker, more efficient turnaround times
Resources: