However, 5 years ago the Asian giant set out to investigate unfamiliar territory and thus stop losing the race of space discovery, inventing a new one:. the race for space science
on Tuesday China reached an important goal in this race.
As reported by the official news agency Xinhua , at 1:40 am local (9:40 GMT ) the country launched the first quantum satellite .
launched from the Center Jiuquan satellite Launch, in the Gobi desert, this satellite of more than 600 kilos was nicknamed Micius in honor the Chinese scientist and philosopher of V century BC considered the pioneer in optical experiments.
However, the official name of the satellite that heads this ambitious two-year mission is Quantum Experiments to Space Scale (Quess, for its acronym in English).
But what is special about this satellite?
quantum Revolution
The quess satellite’s main objective create new networks of global communication test hacking
Therefore, this million-dollar project is closely watched not only by the scientific community, but also by security agencies and intelligence in the world.
What is new is not the use of quantum physics in communication. There are already such networks in Europe, USA and China.
The problem is that these networks can not extend more than 500 kilometers because, to put it simply, they lose “the sign” .
The idea of researchers led by physicist Pan Jian-Wei is minimize this weakness by sending information through space , so that the distance does not affect the signal.
But this is just one of the many challenges of this project.
How it works
One of the main problems of encrypted communications is how to distribute passwords to access information without suffering any interception or hacking .
the satellite search reply applying concepts of quantum physics were described by himself Albert Einstein.
once in space, quess is launching pairs of so-called entangled photons quantum , ie light particles smaller than atoms, whose properties depend on each other.
a unit of that pair will travel a station in China and one to Austria, which also works with the project.
These photons will contain encryption keys necesari a s to decode certain information .
The curious thing about the entangled photons is that although you part, if a photon is affected, its “twin” is amended Just as immediately, no matter how far they are from each other.
This means that if a hacker intercepts one of the entangled photons, the other will. The encryption key, then change and the information that led self-destruct .
So it is said that this communication is Safe hackers
A technology that everyone wants
growing danger of cyber espionage by countries and organizations, the possibility of creating a new generation of secure communications is vital.
United States, Canada, Japan and the European Union are working on similar Chinese projects, but smaller and less risky.
It is not known how much China has invested in quess, but is part of a massive national commitment to scientific research advanced, covering from mining asteroids to genetic manipulation .
to do this, have repatriated scientists as the Pan himself, the brilliant mind behind quess.
in fact, China also got it recruit who was the tutor of doctoral Pan, physicist Anton Zeilinger University of Vienna. Since 2001 the renowned researcher trying to convince unsuccessfully for the European Space Agency launch a similar satellite, so it ended up working for his student .
According to the newspaper the Wall Street Journal , Zeilinger said that “in the long run, there are high chances that this will replace the current communications technology.” He added: “I see no basic reason for it not to happen”
Meanwhile, in an interview with the journal Nature , Pan said. “I think China has the obligation not only to do something for ourselves (many other countries have been to the moon and have made manned space travel), but explore something unknown “.
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