QSS (Quantum Science Satellite) or Mozi or Micius, also known as QUESS (Quantum Experiments at Space Scale), is a Chinese minisatellite to establish a space platform with long-distance satellite and ground quantum channel, and to carry out a series of tests about fundamental quantum principles and protocols in space-based large scale. QSS development was initiated by CAS in partnership with the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Vienna, of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in 2011.
The scientific goals are to implement a series of science missions between Quantum Science Satellite and
quantum communication ground stations. The major tasks are as follows:
- Quantum Key Distribution from Satellite to Ground
To set up an ultra-long-range quantum channel between ground and satellite with the assistance of high-precision acquisition, tracking and pointing system, implement a quantum key distribution between the satellite and the ground stations, and carry out unconditional secure quantum communication experiments.
- Global Scale Quantum Communication Network
To set up a real wide-area network for quantum communication using the satellite repeater and two arbitrary quantum ground stations and their auxiliary local-area fiber quantum networks.
- Quantum Entanglement Distribution from Satellite to two ground stations
Distribution of quantum entangled photons from the satellite to two distant ground stations whose distance is larger than one thousand kilometers; test of the entanglement properties at a large scale and nonlocality of quantum mechanics.
- Quantum Teleportation from Ground to Satellite
as a totally new way of communication, quantum teleportation is the fundamental process of quantum networks and quantum computing. A high quality quantum entanglement source on the ground will be built to achieve ground-to-satellite teleportation experiments based on photon entanglement.
QSS was launched in Augus 2016 on a CZ-2D (2) rocket.
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