Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

SpooQy-1: The First Nano-Satellite to Demonstrate Quantum Entanglement in Space

Tom Vergoossen, Aitor Villar, Alexander Lohrmann, Huai Ying Lim, Divya Shankar, Robert Bedington, Christoph F. Wildfeuer, Douglas K. Griffin, Daniel K. L. Oi, Xueliang Bai, Chithrabhanu Perumangatt, Tanvirul Islam, Ayesha Reezwana, Subash Sachidananda, Zhongkan Tang, Kadir Durak, Rakhitha Chandrasekara, Alexander Ling

Published Jan 1, 2020• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

SpooQy-1 is a 3-unit nanosatellite that was launched into a Low Earth Orbit from the International Space Station on the 17th of June 2019. The spacecraft hosts a scientific payload capable of producing entangled photon-pairs and measuring their polarization in orthogonal bases to perform a Bell test. Since launch, SpooQy-1 has routinely demonstrated the generation and detection of polarization entangled photon-pairs in Space, something that has previously only been demonstrated by the 630kg Micius mission by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The measured entanglement correlations can violate Bell's inequality with a CHSH parameter value of 2.60±0.06, over operating temperatures of 16 °C to 21.5 °C. These results demonstrate that quantum entanglement can be generated in space on highly resource-constrained platforms. A follow-on 12U mission, developed in partnership with RAL space,will build on this to demonstrate space-to-ground entanglement distribution, which is required for space-based nodes to support global quantum communication networks.

Related papers

A CubeSat platform for space based quantum key distribution

Srihari Sivasankaran, Clarence Liu, Moritz Mihm +1 more

Satellite nodes are an enabler of global quantum networks by overcoming the distance limitations of fiber and free-space links on ground. The design of quantum sources and receivers for satellites, however, is challenging in terms of size, weight, and power consumption, as well as mechanical and thermal stability. This is all the more true for cost-efficient nanosatellites such as the popular CubeSat platform standard. Here we report on the follow-up mission of SpooQy-1, a 3U CubeSat that successfully demonstrated the generation of polarization-entangled photons in orbit. The next iteration of the mission will showcase satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution based on a compact source of polarization-entangled photon-pairs, and we have recently completed the integration of a fully functional demonstrator as a milestone towards the flight model. We also briefly describe the design of the optical ground station that we are currently building in Singapore for receiving the quantum signal. We present the most important subsystems and illustrate the concept of operation.

arXiv:2204.11005•IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS)•Mar 28, 2022•10 citations

Small Photon Entangling Quantum System for Space Based Quantum Experiments

Rakhitha Chandrasekara, Zhongkan Tan, Yue Chuan-Tan +2 more

To overcome the challenges of establishing a global Quantum Key Distribution network using optical fibers, several communication protocols using satellites have been proposed. A major milestone towards such a goal is the demonstration of a working source of entangled photons on a satellite. We are building a compact instrument capable of generating entangled photon pairs through spontaneous parametric down conversion. We intend to follow an iterative development cycle with the first mission to demonstrate that the control electronics can reliably operate an optical source of correlated photons in orbit. The instrument we are building is designed to be integrated into a nanosatellite and conforms to the size, weight and power requirements of a 1U CubeSat. The instrument contains a power stabilized optical pump, single photon detectors and inertial free polarization rotators to measure polarization correlations onboard the nanosatellite. The single photon detection unit utilizes a software based controlling mechanism to achieve temperature independent operation in a typical low earth orbit nanosatellite. The integrated system has been tested for thermal, vacuum and vibration environments. The latest test on a high altitude balloon demonstrates the technology readiness of the electronics payload for space missions.

•Jan 1, 2015•1 citation

Validating an Entangled Photon Light Source in Space with the SpooQy-1 CubeSat

Xueliang Bai, Robert Bedington, Karthik Ilangovan +5 more

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a technology that can distribute private encryption keys between two parties with strong security assurances underpinned by quantum mechanics. Entanglement-based QKD is one of the strongest forms of QKD. Performing QKD using satellites can overcome the range constraints of ground-based QKD systems imposed by atmospheric losses or attenuation in optical fibers. In 2017, satellite-based QKD has been demonstrated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ 630kg Micius satellite. Independently in Singapore we are developing similar, but greatly more compact QKD technologies targeted at CubeSats. Our first on-orbit demonstration of a simple quantum light source was in 2016 on board the Galassia 2U CubeSat. Next on the pad, our SpooQy-1 CubeSat is a 3U GomSpace platform built at CQT that aims to validate the space-worthiness of our next generation entangled photon light source and demonstrate a radio beacon of quantum random numbers. In future missions our miniaturized entangled photon light sources can be combined with high precision Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking System (PATS) and optical communication links to enable a global QKD network with small satellites.

•Jan 1, 2018•1 citation

Realizing quantum nodes in space for cost-effective, global quantum communication: in-orbit results and next steps

Chithrabhanu Perumangatt, Tom Vergoossen, Alexander Lohrmann +6 more

Quantum sources and receivers operating on-board satellites are an essential building block for global quantum networks. SpooQy-1 is a satellite developed at the Centre for Quantum Technologies, which has successfully demonstrated the operation of an entangled photon pair source on a resource-constrained CubeSat platform. This miniaturized and ruggedized photon pair source is being upgraded to be capable of space-to-ground quantum key distribution and long-range entanglement distribution. In this paper, we share results from SpooQy-1, discuss their relevance for the engineering challenges of a small satellite quantum node, and report on the development of the new light source.

arXiv:2104.10839•Quantum Computing, Communication, and Simulation•Mar 4, 2021•5 citations

The SPEQTRE optical delivery system

Ann E. Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Harwin, H. C. Robarts +9 more

The Secure Photon Entangled Quantum communication Technology Readiness Experiment (SPEQTRE) project is a technology demonstration mission aiming to show entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) from a nanosatellite platform. The satellite will be a 12U CubeSat, measuring 20 x 20 x 30 cm. It is being developed in collaboration with SpeQtral, a Singaporean company who are providing the quantum source and receiver, and ISISpace, a company based in the Netherlands who are providing the satellite platform and its control systems. The project involves the design, build, test, launch and operation of a satellite payload as well as the development and operation of associated ground station facilities. RAL Space are developing multiple new systems for this mission, including an off-axis telescope for the satellite, a control system to stabilise the optical pointing and an optical ground station at Chilbolton to receive the entangled photons. This paper discussed the optical delivery system which has been designed to transmit an optical signal from LEO to an optical ground station.

International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO)•Jul 28, 2025•0 citations

Thermo-mechanical design for a miniaturized quantum light source on board the SpooQy-1 CubeSat

Huai Ying Lim, Tom Vergoossen, Robert Bedington +8 more

This paper presents the thermo-mechanical design of the quantum light source on board SpooQy-1, a 3U CubeSat that was deployed from the International Space Station on 17th June 2019. SpooQy-1 is a technology demonstrator for space-based quantum networks. The on-board light source generates and detects polarization-entangled photon pairs to validate its in-orbit performance. Entangled photons are generated using spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) necessitating stringent dimensional stability and temperature requirements. Under laboratory conditions these requirements are routinely met using off-the-shelf laboratory mounts and alignment mechanisms. However, when facing harsh environments such as the vibration during rocket launch or temperature changes due to fluctuating illumination conditions, custom thermo-mechanical solutions are required. In this work, the development and in-orbit demonstration of an isostatic payload mount is discussed. This mounting approach enables future space missions with quantum instruments on resource-constrained CubeSat platforms with limited thermal control capabilities.

arXiv:2006.14442•Jun 25, 2020•3 citations
SpooQy-1 is a 3-unit nanosatellite that was launched into a Low Earth Orbit from the International Space Station on the 17th of June 2019. The spacecraft hosts a scientific payload capable of producing entangled photon-pairs and measuring their polarization in orthogonal bases to perform a Bell test. Since launch, SpooQy-1 has routinely demonstrated the generation and detection of polarization entangled photon-pairs in Space, something that has previously only been demonstrated by the 630kg Micius mission by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The measured entanglement correlations can violate Bell's inequality with a CHSH parameter value of 2.60±0.06, over operating temperatures of 16 °C to 21.5 °C. These results demonstrate that quantum entanglement can be generated in space on highly resource-constrained platforms. A follow-on 12U mission, developed in partnership with RAL space,will build on this to demonstrate space-to-ground entanglement distribution, which is required for space-based nodes to support global quantum communication networks.
Satellite nodes are an enabler of global quantum networks by overcoming the distance limitations of fiber and free-space links on ground. The design of quantum sources and receivers for satellites, however, is challenging in terms of size, weight, and power consumption, as well as mechanical and thermal stability. This is all the more true for cost-efficient nanosatellites such as the popular CubeSat platform standard. Here we report on the follow-up mission of SpooQy-1, a 3U CubeSat that successfully demonstrated the generation of polarization-entangled photons in orbit. The next iteration of the mission will showcase satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution based on a compact source of polarization-entangled photon-pairs, and we have recently completed the integration of a fully functional demonstrator as a milestone towards the flight model. We also briefly describe the design of the optical ground station that we are currently building in Singapore for receiving the quantum signal. We present the most important subsystems and illustrate the concept of operation.
To overcome the challenges of establishing a global Quantum Key Distribution network using optical fibers, several communication protocols using satellites have been proposed. A major milestone towards such a goal is the demonstration of a working source of entangled photons on a satellite. We are building a compact instrument capable of generating entangled photon pairs through spontaneous parametric down conversion. We intend to follow an iterative development cycle with the first mission to demonstrate that the control electronics can reliably operate an optical source of correlated photons in orbit. The instrument we are building is designed to be integrated into a nanosatellite and conforms to the size, weight and power requirements of a 1U CubeSat. The instrument contains a power stabilized optical pump, single photon detectors and inertial free polarization rotators to measure polarization correlations onboard the nanosatellite. The single photon detection unit utilizes a software based controlling mechanism to achieve temperature independent operation in a typical low earth orbit nanosatellite. The integrated system has been tested for thermal, vacuum and vibration environments. The latest test on a high altitude balloon demonstrates the technology readiness of the electronics payload for space missions.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a technology that can distribute private encryption keys between two parties with strong security assurances underpinned by quantum mechanics. Entanglement-based QKD is one of the strongest forms of QKD. Performing QKD using satellites can overcome the range constraints of ground-based QKD systems imposed by atmospheric losses or attenuation in optical fibers. In 2017, satellite-based QKD has been demonstrated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ 630kg Micius satellite. Independently in Singapore we are developing similar, but greatly more compact QKD technologies targeted at CubeSats. Our first on-orbit demonstration of a simple quantum light source was in 2016 on board the Galassia 2U CubeSat. Next on the pad, our SpooQy-1 CubeSat is a 3U GomSpace platform built at CQT that aims to validate the space-worthiness of our next generation entangled photon light source and demonstrate a radio beacon of quantum random numbers. In future missions our miniaturized entangled photon light sources can be combined with high precision Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking System (PATS) and optical communication links to enable a global QKD network with small satellites.
Quantum sources and receivers operating on-board satellites are an essential building block for global quantum networks. SpooQy-1 is a satellite developed at the Centre for Quantum Technologies, which has successfully demonstrated the operation of an entangled photon pair source on a resource-constrained CubeSat platform. This miniaturized and ruggedized photon pair source is being upgraded to be capable of space-to-ground quantum key distribution and long-range entanglement distribution. In this paper, we share results from SpooQy-1, discuss their relevance for the engineering challenges of a small satellite quantum node, and report on the development of the new light source.
The Secure Photon Entangled Quantum communication Technology Readiness Experiment (SPEQTRE) project is a technology demonstration mission aiming to show entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) from a nanosatellite platform. The satellite will be a 12U CubeSat, measuring 20 x 20 x 30 cm. It is being developed in collaboration with SpeQtral, a Singaporean company who are providing the quantum source and receiver, and ISISpace, a company based in the Netherlands who are providing the satellite platform and its control systems. The project involves the design, build, test, launch and operation of a satellite payload as well as the development and operation of associated ground station facilities. RAL Space are developing multiple new systems for this mission, including an off-axis telescope for the satellite, a control system to stabilise the optical pointing and an optical ground station at Chilbolton to receive the entangled photons. This paper discussed the optical delivery system which has been designed to transmit an optical signal from LEO to an optical ground station.
This paper presents the thermo-mechanical design of the quantum light source on board SpooQy-1, a 3U CubeSat that was deployed from the International Space Station on 17th June 2019. SpooQy-1 is a technology demonstrator for space-based quantum networks. The on-board light source generates and detects polarization-entangled photon pairs to validate its in-orbit performance. Entangled photons are generated using spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) necessitating stringent dimensional stability and temperature requirements. Under laboratory conditions these requirements are routinely met using off-the-shelf laboratory mounts and alignment mechanisms. However, when facing harsh environments such as the vibration during rocket launch or temperature changes due to fluctuating illumination conditions, custom thermo-mechanical solutions are required. In this work, the development and in-orbit demonstration of an isostatic payload mount is discussed. This mounting approach enables future space missions with quantum instruments on resource-constrained CubeSat platforms with limited thermal control capabilities.