Augmentation of Future Quantum Key Distribution Networks with CubeSat Systems

立方体卫星(质量为10公斤，尺寸为10-40厘米长的纳米卫星)提供了一个具有成本效益和快速部署的机会，为广泛的市场和技术提升提供概念验证。在某些情况下，它们也是最终服务交付的一部分，例如Planet，它用CubeSats增强了更大的卫星，以进行响应的地球观测。这项可行性研究旨在确定CubeSat市场的势头和灵活性以及在整体性能方面取得的进展在多大程度上可以应用和协调，以支持和利用天基量子密钥分发的出现，利用英国国内已经在有效载荷系统方面进行的开发。QKD为密钥分发提供了一种高度安全的方法，这对从金融交易到军事通信的现代数据系统安全至关重要。这项工作将为特派团架构、接口规范、系统测试和开发路线图提供信息，并进一步提供利益攸关方的系统视图。该办法将确定利用立方体卫星加速和加强空间量子密钥分配的技术或服务准备情况的机会。

CubeSats (nanosatellites of mass <10kg, with dimensions 10-40 cm in length) offer a cost-effective and rapidly deployed opportunity to provide both proof-of-concept to a wide market and technology raising. In some instances they are also part of the final service delivery, for example, in the case of Planet, who augment larger satellites with CubeSats for responsive Earth observation. This feasibility study seeks to determine the extent to which the momentum and agility of the CubeSat marketplace, and the progress made in overall performance, can be applied and aligned to support and capitalise on the emergence of space-based Quantum Key Distribution, harnessing the developments already underway within the UK in payload systems. QKD offers a highly secure method for key distribution that is critical to modern data systems security, from financial transactions to military communications. The work will inform mission architecture, interface specification, system testing and development roadmaps, and further provide a systems-view across stakeholders. The approach will identify opportunities to accelerate and augment the technology or service readiness of space-based QKD using CubeSats.