Boeing to launch quantum network satellite following successful lab trials
Mission seeks to prove potential of quantum technology for secure, quantum-enhanced applications
US aerospace giant Boeing has announced plans to launch its quantum network satellite, Q4S, in 2026 after a series of successful lab tests in collaboration with car manufacturer General Motors.
The experimental satellite, internally funded by Boeing, aims to demonstrate the viability of quantum networking in space, a critical step towards enabling highly synchronised communication networks over vast distances.
Quantum sensors are much more precise than today's state-of-the-art instruments and quantum computers have the capacity to process large amounts of data, offering potential to revolutionise an array of industries.
The Q4S mission will seek to prove the potential of quantum technology for secure, quantum-enhanced applications.
Boeing believes this could lead to advances in fault-tolerant systems that reduce computing errors, secure voting mechanisms that ensure electoral integrity, and blind quantum computing, which allows data to be processed without being exposed.
Boeing is also working on a UK project focused on quantum key distribution (QKD) receiver modules, which could further extend the applications of this technology.
Jay Lowell, chief engineer for Boeing's Disruptive Computing, Networks and Sensors organisation said: "We're making a big bet on quantum technology.
“Quantum entanglement swapping underpins the communication of the future, expanding quantum networks beyond simple point-to-point communication. We're launching Q4S to prove it can be done in orbit."
Entanglement swapping allows quantum information to be transferred between particles without physically moving them, a process known as quantum teleportation.
This could lead to scalable networks, enabling quantum information to travel over long distances, overcoming current limitations posed by decoherence and data loss.
The year-long Q4S demonstration will involve two photon pair sources generating entangled particles aboard a space vehicle. HRL Laboratories, a joint venture between Boeing and GM, has played a key role in developing the technology, with benchtop exercises showing promising results. The team is now finalising the design for a space-ready payload.
Todd Citron, Boeing's Chief Technology Officer added: "We're doing much more than participating in quantum research, we are leading the way to operationalise and scale quantum technologies for global applications."