Group: 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
Moving towards:
- Constellation of satellites for long-range in-space communication → potential inter-collegiate collaboration
Instruments/sensors:
Quantum Payload Instrumentation
- BB84/Decoy-State QKD Source
- Laser Diodes
- Intensity Modulator
- Phase or Polarization Modulator
- Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Components or Bulk Optics
- Bean Expander/Telescope
- Entangled Photon Source (SPDC Source)
- Pump Laser
- Nonlinear Crystal
- Temp Control Module
- Beam-Splitting and Filtering Optics
Optical Link/Acquisition and Tracking Instrumentation
- 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
- Ground Optical Terminal
- Large Aperture Telescope
- Adaptive Optics
- Single-Photon Detectors
- Beacon Lasers
- High-Speed Classical Downlink Receiver
- Timing Equipment
- GPSDO
- Rubidium or Cesium Atomic Clock
- High-Speed Time-Taggers
Cost Analysis:
Quantum Payload ($200k - $650k)
- 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)
QUARC: Quantum Research Cubesat—A Constellation for Quantum Communication
https://arxiv.org/abs/1704.08707
Size Analysis:
6U cubesat, nominal 12cm x 24 cm x 36cm (based on 1) → weighs 10kg
- 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 | |
|---|---|
| Payload Volume | |
| Mass Budget | |
| Power Budget | |
| Instrument Performance | |
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.
Cubesats offer the possibility of validating such a technology with quicker, more efficient turnaround times
Resources: