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China Launches World's First Quantum Communications Satellite (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the first-of-a-kind dept.

hackingbear quotes a report from The Verge: China's quantum network could soon span two continents, thanks to a satellite launched earlier today. Launched at 1:40pm ET, the Quantum Science Satellite is designed to distribute quantum-encrypted keys between relay stations in China and Europe. When working as planned, the result could enable unprecedented levels of security between parties on different continents. China's new satellite would put that same fiber-based quantum communication system to work over the air, utilizing high-speed coherent lasers to connect with base stations on two different continents. The experimental satellite's payload also includes controllers and emitters related to quantum entanglement. The satellite will be the first device of its kind if the quantum equipment works as planned. According to the Wall Street Journal, the project was first proposed to the European Space Agency in 2001 but was unable to gain funding.

3 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. China Launches Ball of Buzzwords. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    FTFY.

  2. Re:Really? You need to ask this? by invid · · Score: 2, Insightful

    China's growth has been impressive, and it is a fantastically dynamic country, but it still has significant disadvantages. The portion of its population that is still in poverty exceeds the entire population of the United States, and its government is ramping up its repression of dissent, which is a troubling sign. The transition to a consumer economy will not be easy, and there is still the danger of uprisings. I'm old enough to remember talk of the Soviet Union destroying the American Empire, a united Europe destroying the American Empire, OPEC taking over the world, Japan rising and surpassing America, and now of a Chinese Century. Somehow the US is still on top. The US has so many inherent advantages, and the rest of the world so many inherent disadvantages, I don't see a loss of American dominance until at least 2050. China will require a significant social reorganization before it can surpass the US, and it looks like the pressures on infrastructure caused by climate change will probably derail that possibility.

    --
    The Moore-Murphy Law: The number of things that will go wrong will double every 2 years.
  3. Re:Really? You need to ask this? by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The portion of its population that is still in poverty exceeds the entire population of the United States"

    The Chinese cohort of anything exceeds the entire population of the United States. This is also true of the number of Chinese brains being applied to science/tech problems of every kind.

    We fear what our lawyers cannot suppress.