The number of satellites is rapidly growing, hence the demand for increasingly precise knowledge of the satellites’ orbital parameters is essential to avoid collisions, debris, and efficient use of the orbits. Recognizing, cataloging, and measuring with better confidence are actions crucial to preserve the health of crewed and uncrewed flying objects. Moreover, strategies to distinguish them may vary: TNO is developing suitable optical instrumentation for flying object reconnaissance along these two main paths. The satellite license plate (SLP) is a collaborative method based on a tag mounted on the satellite before launch. This plate consists of retroreflectors and wisely arranged bandpass filters. Therefore, it is passive and needs no power as opposed to an onboard radio beacon. Once a ground-based laser terminal illuminates the tag attached to the satellite, it sends back to Earth a signal encoding a unique identifier in the spectral domain. The current activities of TNO focus on proof-of-principle experiments in relevant environments (free-space tests over 2.5 km distances) and system design.
Bob P. Dirks, Gustavo Castro do Amaral, David Bakker, Luca Mazzarella, Ivan Ferrario, Sander Kossen, Michiel Marcus, B. Perlingeiro Corrêa, Hemant Sharma, Alessandro Le Pera, Daniele Vito Finocchiaro, Martina Ottavi, Noemi Scaiella, Gabriele Riccardi
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is the most mature quantum technology, having achieved on-ground applications and commercially available products. In this domain, satellite platforms are essential to achieve a communication range reaching the intercontinental scale, acting thus as enablers for the future global quantum internet operation. This paper will report on the main results of the TNO-Eutelsat-TAS Italy project aiming to evaluate a novel hybrid approach for improved QKD performance particularly suited for geostationary orbits (GEO); the Dutch TKI HTSM sponsors the overall activity. We will present the results of lab-based tests of a novel QKD free-space approach that simultaneously implements the BBM92 protocol in both trusted and trust-free mode, following a joint Eutelsat-TNO patent. The trust-free mode between two ground receivers is the standard BBM92 protocol that uses entangled photons and there is no need for further security assumptions on the satellite payload. In trusted mode operation, one of the two entangled photons is measured directly on board. Key material is generated between ground and satellite. Security measures will be needed in the space segment, which therefore needs to be trusted. Further, we will present a demonstration roadmap aiming at free space field test to validate loss and key rate models for a free space link up to 2.5km in one of the arms. We also present a perspective on potential future GEO-based quantum applications beyond QKD. Additional presentation content can be accessed on the supplemental content page.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.