The SpeQtre satellite, a collaboration between the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), RAL Space and Singapore’s SpeQtral, will demonstrate secure quantum communications between ground stations in the UK and Singapore.
While quantum computing promises breakthroughs in many areas, from medicine to finance, it also threatens to crack the encryption that currently protects everything from online banking to national security.
The UK government is backing quantum communications as the solution by using the unique properties of quantum particles to create encryption keys that cannot be intercepted without leaving a trace.
The mission aims to demonstrate ultra-secure quantum technology from orbit – a crucial milestone in safeguarding data against cyber-attacks that next-generation quantum computers could enable.
Making quantum communications 100% secure
SpeQtre aims to test communications so secure that any attempt to intercept them is instantly detectable – a fundamental law of physics that makes the technology unhackable even by future quantum computers.
This is a key step towards safeguarding data against potential cyber-attacks enabled by next-generation quantum computers.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, there has never been a more important time to drive forward technologies that can keep us one step ahead of those threatening to wreak havoc.
“By drawing on the power of quantum communications to keep data secure, this satellite demonstrates the value of British ingenuity in keeping our country safe from cyber threats while further building on our reputation as a world leader in quantum technology.”
Reducing cost and accessibility
Establishing quantum communication links from space is an extremely complex feat, but crucial for enabling secure, long-distance communication worldwide.
SpeQtre represents a notably more difficult technical challenge: demonstrating the exchange of quantum information from a nanosatellite roughly the size of a microwave oven.
By scaling down this complex technology, the mission aims to make future quantum communication systems more affordable and accessible – positioning Britain as a world leader in this emerging field.
A different approach
The mission has taken a radically different approach from traditional space projects, combining off-the-shelf products with cutting-edge technology through an experimental development process.
This has enabled SpeQtre to progress from concept to orbit more quickly and at lower cost than comparable missions.
SpeQtre is already helping to shape the UK’s future in quantum space research, informing the UK Quantum Networking Mission and upcoming initiatives such as SPOQC (Satellite Platform for Optical Quantum Communications), a related project led by the University of York under the EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub.
Next steps for secure quantum communications from space
Following a successful launch, the satellite will enter a commissioning phase during which the teams from RAL Space and SpeQtral will verify that their systems are operating as expected. Quantum communication experiments are then scheduled to begin in early 2026.
SpeQtre aims to demonstrate its technology by exchanging quantum information over long distances between a RAL Space ground station at the Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire and a corresponding ground station in Singapore, providing crucial proof-of-concept for secure quantum communications from space.
Andy Vick, Disruptive Technology Lead at RAL Space and UK Principal Investigator for SpeQtre, concluded: “SpeQtre is the first satellite developed through our agile mission facility, and a credit to the teams who have worked hard to deliver the payload for launch.
“By approaching this mission with speed and creativity, they have already paved the way for more ambitious missions ahead, including future UK demonstrators. But for now, for SpeQtre, the real fun begins as we look forward to the beginning of our quantum experiments in space.”
