Contributors: Kareena, Angelina

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)

*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

https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2025/08/25/the-small-satellite-mission-a-guide-to-development-costs-and-timelines/

cubesat for QUANtum and 5G cOmmunication | QUANGO | Project | Fact Sheet | H2020 | CORDIS | European Commission

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:

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:

1. CubeSat quantum communications mission
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/nphoton.2017.107
3. https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.12749
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/nphys629