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SPOQC []
SPOQC (Satellite Platform for Optical Quantum Communications) is a British technology demonstration mission designed to support the development of space-based quantum communications. The satellite is based on a 12U CubeSat platform supplied by the Dutch company ISISPACE and serves as the orbital platform for the UK Quantum Communications Hub's In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission.
The mission aims to demonstrate the distribution of quantum encryption keys from space to ground stations, a key technology for future ultra-secure global communication networks based on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The satellite will establish optical links with ground stations in the United Kingdom, primarily the Optical Ground Station (OGS) at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The spacecraft is based on ISISPACE's standard 12U CubeSat bus, providing the power, attitude control, communications, and onboard data handling required for the quantum communications payload. The mission demonstrates the use of a commercially available small satellite platform for advanced quantum optical experiments in orbit.
SPOQC operates in a low Earth Sun-synchronous orbit, enabling regular passes over the UK ground station network to support repeated quantum communication experiments. The mission forms part of the UK Quantum Communications Hub's effort to develop operational space-based quantum communication capabilities.
| Nation: | U.K., Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Communications, technology |
| Operator: | Quantum Communications Hub, ISISPACE |
| Contractors: | ISISPACE |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (12U) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPOQC | 2026-067H | 30.03.2026 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Gravitas, FGN-100 d3, HotSat 2, W-Series 6, Vindlér 2.0.1, ..., 2.0.3, Capella 20, ICEYE X71, ..., X76, IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 9, ..., 16, ŅuSat 53, 54, Hawk 14A, 14B, 14C, Garai B, SERT 3, Mimir 1, ION-SCV 019, Lusíada 1, ..., 4, Vigoride 7, InspectorSat 1, R5 S10, SpaceVan 002, AEPEX, MARS 1A, 1B, Out Of The Box, Vireon 1, 2, SPOQC, BRO 19, Black Kite 2, ERMIS 3, Flylab 1, T.MicroSat 2, TORO 3, AE1a, AISSat 4, COSMO, Deloitte 2, 3, ERMIS 1, 2, Flylab 2, GEMS2-Amethyst, GENIEedge Atlas, Harbinger, Lilium 4, OptiSat, PARUS 6U1, Sharjah-Sat 2, Io 1, DISCO 2, FossaSat 2E25, Ghostrider, JACK 002, PeakSat, SAL-E, AiglonSat 1, Emisar, TechEdSat 23, Dream Big 1, ..., 6, Unicorn 2R, 2S, SpinnyONE, Decimal-Sat 1, VegaFly 1, FEMTO 1, HelloWorld 1, Lemur-2 247, ..., 253, LUNA 2, PHOBOS, SM 1.2 ?, TROOP F3 |
Launch Sites:
- Va = Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA
