Israel launches new nanosatellite in quantum communication advance
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Scientists from Israel’s Tel Aviv University have launched into orbit a new nanosatellite designed to advance research into quantum communication, a field of technology that aims to render information security completely unassailable by hackers, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
Named TAU-SAT3, the 20-centimeter nanosatellite was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Tuesday, TOI said. The TAU-SAT3 is equipped with a tiny optical device and has batteries made by the Israeli company Epsilor to charge it for the time it is in orbit.
In a statement about the launch, Prof. Yaron Oz, head of TAU’s Center for Quantum Science and Technology, said: “The principles of quantum mechanics enable an unconditionally secure encryption method. Whenever a hostile entity tries to intercept a transmitted message, the message immediately dissipates. Moreover, the interception attempt is detected – unlike current encryption methods, in which interceptions remain undetectable.”
The TAU-SAT3 will circle the earth for about five years at an altitude of 550 kilometers (342 miles), TOI said.
The nanosatellite will conduct a number of scientific missions and send optical and radio communication signals back to an optical ground station at Tel Aviv university.
This nanosatellite is one of a series of three that TAU has launched in less than three years, TOI reports.
If you are interested in articles produced by Worthy News, please check out our FREE sydication service available to churches or online Christian ministries. To find out more, visit Worthy Plugins.