Insider Brief
- HRL Laboratories and Boeing have completed a flight-ready quantum communication subassembly for the Q4S satellite, advancing space-based quantum networking.
- The subassembly integrates optical, electronic, and thermal components into a compact 15kg system, validated in Boeing’s El Segundo Space Simulation Laboratory.
- It will act as a ground twin to the Q4S orbital payload, enabling in-space demonstration of four-photon quantum entanglement swapping for secure satellite communications.
PRESS RELEASE — HRL Laboratories and Boeing have completed construction and technical validation on a quantum communication subassembly for Boeing’s Q4S satellite mission – a first-of-its-kind effort to demonstrate four-photon quantum entanglement swapping in space. This powerful capability is essential to enabling future secure communications and distributed quantum networks.
With this milestone, HRL has successfully completed construction of the fully integrated, space-grade subassembly, a significant step toward flight readiness. The build brings together our optical board, control electronics and final thermo-mechanical packaging into a single, space-ready system. It has already passed initial end-to-end software verification.
“HRL has delivered an optical lab’s worth of capability in a compact, 15kg integrated space-capable assembly,” said Jay Lowell, Chief Scientist of Boeing’s Disruptive Computing, Networks & Sensors organization. “After validating the space qualification of our subassembly in our Boeing El Segundo Space Simulation Laboratory, this payload subassembly will serve as the ground twin to mirror the on-orbit payload which is currently in production.”
In validation tests, the team demonstrated quantum entanglement for each of the two sources in this subassembly.
“Demonstrating entanglement swapping between these two entangled photon pairs will enable us to entangle previously unconnected nodes, a foundational breakthrough for building secure, scalable quantum computing and sensing networks in space,” said Jennifer Ellis, Principal Investigator at HRL.
- To ensure reliable performance in orbit, the team rigorously tested the subassemblies of the single photon sources.
- Each source performed well, showing strong signal quality (fidelity between 0.8 and 0.9) and detecting over 2,500 matching photon pairs per second, enough to meet the project’s requirements for accurate quantum measurements.
“Validation and environmental testing are critical milestones on the path to a successful space mission,” said Rob Vasquez, CEO of HRL. “We’re proud to partner with Boeing on this pioneering demonstration and lay the groundwork for secure communications in space.”
Matt Swayne
With a several-decades long background in journalism and communications, Matt Swayne has worked as a science communicator for an R1 university for more than 12 years, specializing in translating high tech and deep tech for the general audience. He has served as a writer, editor and analyst at The Space Impulse since its inception. In addition to his service as a science communicator, Matt also develops courses to improve the media and communications skills of scientists and has taught courses.
Share this article:
