SAGA (satellite)
| Mission type | Technology demonstration |
|---|---|
| Operator |  European Union European Space Agency |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Thales Alenia Space |
SAGA (Security And cryptoGrAphic) is a future European technology demonstration satellite for in-orbit demonstration of space-based quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure communications.[1][2] The mission is funded by ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme[1][3] and its prime contractor is Thales Alenia Space.[4][5][6][7][8] Unlike another QKD satelllite by ESA called Eagle-1, SAGA focuses mostly on institutional services and is designed to support classified data transmissions.[9][2] SAGA is part of the EU's European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI).[2][10][11][12][13]
See also
[edit]- List of European Space Agency programmes and missions
- Eagle-1 – European quantum communication satellite
- QUBE-II – German technology demonstration satellite
- Quantum Experiments at Space Scale – Chinese quantum research satellite
References
[edit]- 1 2 Gorman, Douglas (3 October 2025). "ESA Continues to Bet Big on Quantum Comms". Payload. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Saga – Security and cryptographic mission". www.esa.int. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sicherheitsüberprüfung / Security Check". www.ait.ac.at. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Wolves and quantum bits: creating the Saga mission patch". www.esa.int. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "SAGA mission for sovereign quantum key distribution capability in Europe goes to Phase B2 | SPACECONOMY". spaceconomy.fi. 19 October 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ Thomas, Jack (3 October 2025). "ESA launches €50M quantum communications mission with Thales Alenia Space". Innovation News Network. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Thales Alenia Space and ESA sign contract for SAGA mission to demonstrate Europe's first Quantum Key Distribution governmental service | Thales Alenia Space". www.thalesaleniaspace.com. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Officina Stellare subsidiary ThinkQuantum signs new contract with Thales Alenia Space for ESA SAGA - Officina Stellare". Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Advancing European satellite security through quantum communications". Space War. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ Swayne, Matt (1 October 2025). "ESA Signs a Contract on SAGA Mission For Sovereign Quantum Key Distribution Capability in Europe". The Quantum Insider. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "SAGA : l'Europe sécurise ses communications par satellite". www.telesatellite.com. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ Decourt, Rémy (12 October 2025). "Mission Saga : un grand pas pour la cybersécurité européenne et les communications quantiques". Futura (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ Abdel-Kareem, Mohamed (2 October 2025). "ESA Awards €50 Million ($58.6 Million USD) Contract to Thales Alenia Space for SAGA Quantum Mission". Quantum Computing Report. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
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Future missions in italics
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