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| Micius (satellite) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Micius |
| Names list | Quantum Experiments at Space Scale |
| Mission type | Quantum communication, quantum optics |
| Operator | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Cospar id | 2016-022A |
| Satcat | 41480 |
| Mission duration | Active (launched 2016) |
| Manufacturer | Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics |
| Launch mass | 640 kg |
| Launch date | 2016-08-16 |
| Launch rocket | Long March 2D |
| Launch site | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center |
| Launch contractor | China National Space Administration |
| Orbit reference | Geocentric |
| Orbit regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Orbit periapsis | ~500 km |
| Orbit apoapsis | ~500 km |
| Orbit inclination | 97.4° |
| Apsis | gee |
Micius (satellite) is a Chinese scientific satellite dedicated to experimental quantum science in space. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and launched by the China National Space Administration in 2016, it was designed to pioneer long-distance quantum entanglement distribution, quantum key distribution, and quantum teleportation between space and ground. The mission established space-based links between terrestrial stations in China, Austria, Italy, and other locations, demonstrating technologies with implications for encryption and international scientific collaboration.
The satellite was named after the ancient Chinese philosopher Mozi and is associated with institutions including the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, the University of Science and Technology of China, and the Institute of Optics and Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is part of a broader national strategy alongside projects such as BeiDou, Tiangong and cooperating initiatives like the Quantum Internet research community. The project intersects research groups and laboratories at Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, University of Vienna, Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), and teams led by scientists such as Pan Jianwei, whose work connects to awards like the Wolf Prize in Physics and institutions including Harvard University and MIT through collaborative publications.
Primary objectives included demonstration of downlink quantum key distribution to ground stations, generation and distribution of entangled photon pairs over thousands of kilometers, and teleportation of quantum states between ground stations mediated by a satellite relay. The mission sought to test protocols related to BB84 protocol, Ekert protocol, and foundational tests relevant to Bell's theorem and Loophole-free Bell test scenarios. The experimental goals interacted with cryptography communities at NIST, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and research groups in Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
The satellite carried a space-qualified entangled photon source, high-precision telescopes, and single-photon detectors operating with adaptive optics calibrated against references such as GPS timing signals and atomic clocks like the cesium atomic clock and rubidium clock technologies. The payload integrated optics techniques familiar to teams at Caltech, Stanford University, Princeton University, and Imperial College London, and relied on space engineering practices used in missions by agencies such as European Space Agency, NASA, Roscosmos, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and ISRO. Key subsystems included pointing, acquisition and tracking developed with guidance from companies and institutions like CASC affiliates and testing facilities used by SAIC and Thales Alenia Space.
Micius was launched on 16 August 2016 aboard a Long March 2D launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, joining China's expanding fleet including missions like Chang'e, Shenzhou, and Gaofen satellites. Placed into a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, it achieved line-of-sight windows to ground stations in Delingha, Ngari, Lhasa, and international stations in Vienna and La Palma used by collaborators. Orbital mechanics considerations were analyzed with reference to classical treatments from Isaac Newton and modern trajectories relevant to agencies such as SpaceX and those operating cubesats like Planet Labs.
Micius achieved entanglement distribution over distances exceeding 1,200 kilometers, enabling quantum teleportation experiments between ground stations and secure quantum key exchange across continental spans. Results were published in journals and conferences associated with Nature, Science, Physical Review Letters, and proceedings of meetings at SPIE, Optica (formerly OSA), and IEEE Photonics Conference. Experiments tested violations of local realism connected to Bell inequality measurements and provided practical implementations of quantum cryptographic protocols that intersect with standards bodies such as ISO, ITU, and cybersecurity research groups at ENISA and NIST.
The mission relied on ground stations operated by institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IQOQI-Vienna), University of Vienna, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) facilities at La Palma, and partner laboratories at USTC. Collaborative frameworks involved exchanges with teams from Trinity College Dublin, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhejiang University, and technology providers like Huawei and ZTE for integration of secure communications research. Ground optical links used telescopes, adaptive optics, and time-synchronization referencing systems developed in coordination with observatories such as European Southern Observatory and metrology centers like PTB.
Micius catalyzed international research on a prospective quantum internet, influencing policy discussions in bodies like the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and funding agencies such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the European Commission through programs like Horizon 2020. The satellite inspired follow-on projects, commercial interest from firms in quantum cryptography, academic programs at ETH Zurich, University of Toronto, and standards efforts within IEEE. Its scientific legacy informs future missions proposed by CNSA, ESA, and private space companies, shaping research trajectories in quantum communication, foundational quantum physics, and global secure communications.
Category:Satellites of China Category:Quantum communication satellites