Howie Jones
Boeing is working on a satellite mission to demonstrate quantum entanglement swapping capabilities in space. The company says it is a first-of-its-kind mission that aims to lay the groundwork for a global quantum satellite network. The mission is scheduled for launch in 2026 and will involve two entangled-photon pair sources housed within one space vehicle.
Boeing is collaborating with HRL Laboratories, a joint venture between Boeing and General Motors, for this mission. The satellite is named Q4S, which references quantum physics, the four photons involved in the entanglement swapping protocol, and the space environment. The mission will fly on an Astro Digital Corvus satellite.
Jay Lowell, chief engineer for Boeing’s Disruptive Computing, Networks & Sensors organization, said in a recent media briefing that this mission is a cornerstone of Boeing’s quantum strategy. “This demonstration will inform how quantum networking technology could impact Boeing’s products and services,” Lowell said. Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon Albert Einstein famously described as “spooky action at a distance.” It involves quantum teleportation, where information carried by a particle can be transferred without moving the particle itself across space.
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