Musk launches first quantum nanosatellite for Israel
Recently, Musk's SpaceX rocket successfully launched Israel's Tel Aviv University (TAU) 20 cm nanosatellite that will communicate with optical ground stations from space to create a reliable quantum communication network.
A new nanosatellite developed by Tel Aviv University researchers was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Tuesday (Jan. 3) local time. According to the researchers, the 20-centimeter nanosatellite, called TAU-SAT3, is the first Israeli satellite built to advance research in space optics and quantum communications, and is "an important step toward demonstrating reliable quantum communications.
20 cm nanosatellite developed by Tel Aviv University.
Quantum communication is a field of technology that aims to enable fast and secure transmission of files and data communications, and aims to make information security completely immune to unauthorized access in a world constantly threatened by hackers.
Professor Yaron Oz, head of TAU's Center for Quantum Science and Technology, noted that governments around the world are investing millions of dollars in quantum computers because of their promise to "break today's encryption algorithms" and thus expose data such as personal medical and financial records, emails and WhatsApp messages. "Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to quickly solve problems that classical computers cannot by processing large amounts of data.
The principles of quantum mechanics make unconditionally secure encryption methods possible," said Professor Oz. Whenever a hostile entity tries to intercept a transmitted message, the message immediately disappears. Moreover, interception is detectable - unlike current encryption methods, where interception remains undetectable in existing methods."
At an altitude of 550 kilometers, TAU-SAT3 will orbit the Earth for approximately five years, performing multiple scientific missions while sending optical and radio communication signals back to the optical ground station on the roof of the TAU campus.
"This is the first optical ground station in Israel and one of the few in the world capable of locking onto, tracking and collecting data from nanosatellites smaller than one pixel as seen from Earth." said Professor Noam Eliaz, Dean of TAU's Fleishman School of Engineering.
TAU's third space exploration satellite
Tel Aviv University's research team
Developed by TAU's Fleishman School of Engineering, TAU-SAT3 is equipped with an optical device that is only a few centimeters long and features an on-board battery made by the Israeli company Epsilor that will power it for its entire life cycle in orbit.
Professor Eliaz said, "As the satellite passes over Israel, the device will emit light of different wavelengths and the telescope of the optical ground station will recognize the tiny flash, lock on and track it." However, when the optical device is turned toward the optical ground station, the antenna will be facing a different direction, "so most of the data may be lost. The novelty of this project is that the communication system installed on the nano-satellite and ground station is able to reconstruct the lost data in real time using intelligent signal processing algorithms developed at TAU."
The nanosatellite is one of a series of three satellites TAU has launched in less than three years, joining a global space revolution in which research is being opened up to civilian institutions and companies.In 2021, TAU sent out two nanosatellites, TAU-SAT1 and TAU-SAT2; with the official launch of TAU-SAT3, Israel will be taking a step toward realizing its space exploration program.
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