Quantum keys secure satellite data

Hannah Daniel

Satellite-based quantum communication enables ultra-secure quantum key distribution.

Rahul Barnwal, Avinash S Vaidya, Srujan Maram +3 more

In the rapidly evolving field of satellite technology, ensuring secure transmission of telemetry data has become increasingly critical. Traditional encryption methods, such as AES, rely on static keys, which pose significant risks if compromised, allowing attackers to decrypt past and future communications. This paper addresses the shortcomings of traditional method by proposing a session-based encryption approach using CRYSTALS Kyber, a post-quantum cryptography technique. Our method enhances security by generating unique session keys for each satellite and ground station communication window, mitigating the impact of potential key exposure. Through the implementation of this approach, which includes the use of a quantum random number generator (QRNG) for key generation, we demonstrate secure end-to-end encryption and decryption of satellite telemetry data. This approach not only fortifies current security measures but also ensures resilience against future quantum computing threats, providing a robust solution for the secure transmission of satellite data in the quantum era.

Sheng‐Kai Liao, Wenqi Cai, Wei-Yue Liu +31 more

Mitch Leslie

Thomas Roger, Ravinder Singh, Chithrabhanu Perumangatt +5 more

Satellite quantum key distribution (SatQKD) intermediated by a trusted satellite in a low-Earth orbit to ground stations along the satellite's path allows remote users to connect securely. To establish a secure connection, a SatQKD session must be conducted to each user over a dynamically changing free-space link, all within just a few hundred seconds. Because of the short time and large losses under which the QKD protocol will be implemented, it has not yet been possible to form a complete key by transmitting all the relevant information required within a single overpass of the satellite. Here, we demonstrate a real-time QKD system that is capable of forming a 4.58-megabit secure key between two nodes within an emulated satellite overpass. We anticipate that our system will set the stage for practical implementations of intercontinental quantum secure communications that can operate over large networks of nodes and enable the secure transmission of data globally.

Sebastian Philipp Neumann, Mathieu Barthélémy, Siddarth Koduru Joshi +8 more