• Thales Alenia Space signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency to lead the preliminary design and development of technologies for the Multi-Purpose Habitation (MPH) module, set to become the first dedicated human habitat on the Moon under the NASA-ASI Artemis partnership.

• Scheduled to launch in 2033, the MPH will serve as a mobile, long-duration lunar shelter supporting astronaut missions, scientific research, and sustainable surface operations over a planned 10-year lifespan.

• Italy becomes central to the Moon-to-Mars strategy through this initiative, with Thales Alenia Space leading a national consortium to tackle extreme lunar conditions and develop technologies for future interplanetary missions.

• Space Insider tracks partnerships in real time and delivers trend-driven insights to help decision-makers invest, partner, and innovate in the space industry. See how our data can work for you.

PRESS RELEASE — Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to perform the preliminary design phase, including development of critical enabling technologies, of the pressurized Multi-Purpose Habitation (MPH) module for the lunar surface.

Planned for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 2033, the MPH module will be the first ever dedicated habitation asset on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis Accords between NASA and ASI for bilateral Moon cooperation. The MPH module will safely host astronauts during their missions, support surface operations, enable scientific research experiments both with and without the presence of a human crew; and have the capability to move on the surface.

Designed for a minimum operational lifespan of 10 years, the MPH will serve as a permanent surface habitat, capable of operating synergistically with other elements of the Artemis architecture.

Part rover, part lunar shelter

Over the course of the two-year contract, Thales Alenia Space Italy will act as overall prime contractor, working alongside Altec (a public-private company owned by Thales Alenia Space and ASI) and other Italian industrial entities, for the MPH preliminary design phase. The initial development will focus on enabling technologies aimed at facing the harsh environmental conditions on the lunar surface, including extreme thermal variations, pervasive lunar dust, high radiation levels, micrometeoroid impacts, and the effects of reduced lunar gravity. In collaboration with the Industrial consortium members and space agencies, the company will lead the development of the MPH module to advance scientific discovery on the Moon, enable sustainable lunar exploration and drive the knowledge and technologies needed to support human missions to Mars.

Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency, emphasized: “MPH represents yet another scientific challenge for Italy and ASI, which are planning to bring a comfortable and safe human settlement to the lunar surface, thanks to the expertise and high, competitive technological standards that Thales Alenia Space Italy has acquired internationally in the field of space habitability. The future lunar module, the result of the historic relationship between NASA and ASI, is part of a long-term investment vision that Italy has implemented, enabling us to play an increasingly leading role in the new space race and, moreover, to be a fundamental part of the Moon to Mars Strategy of NASA’s Artemis program. Today’s signature confirms the Italian Government’s significant and ongoing commitment to supporting the development of the Space Economy and supporting Italy’s globally recognized excellence. Furthermore, it is important that this act comes just days after Parliament’s approval of the country’s first “Space Law”.

“We are deeply honored that ASI has entrusted Thales Alenia Space with this contract to develop the MPH, giving us, as a leading European company, the opportunity to drive scientific and technological progress in building the first Italian human outpost on the lunar surface. This milestone will further strengthen and advance human space exploration on the Moon and beyond,” said Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO and Executive Vice President, Observation, Exploration and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space.

About THALES ALENIA SPACE

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental monitoring, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of solutions including services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of €2.23 billion in 2024 and has more than 8,100 employees in 7 countries with 15 sites in Europe.

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• SpeQtral and Thales Alenia Space have entered a new phase of collaboration to demonstrate entangled photon transmission between space and Earth, advancing the foundations of quantum communication beyond QKD.

• The planned demonstration will validate key technologies, including free-space optical links and environmental signal analysis—relevant for future quantum networks, from secure communications to distributed computing.

• Governments and companies worldwide are accelerating investment in quantum communication infrastructure, but the landscape remains fragmented across technical maturity and strategic alignment.

• Space Insider helps public and commercial stakeholders navigate this complexity by tracking company activity, funding, partnerships, and readiness across the quantum-space value chain.

Quantum communications, often confined to laboratory demonstrations and fiber-based terrestrial trials, are entering their orbital phase. In a recent announcement from SpeQtral and Thales Alenia Space, the two companies extend their partnership to develop and test a space-to-ground quantum communication link. This includes a planned joint demonstration of a space-to-ground quantum link, integrating SpeQtral’s in-development quantum satellite with Thales’s first quantum ground station, which includes environmental sensors designed to measure how real-world atmospheric conditions affect quantum signal fidelity.

This partnership reflects a broader industrial strategy around enabling quantum communications at scale, not just through quantum key distribution (QKD), but by laying the groundwork for a future quantum internet. The planned demonstration involves testing the transmission of entangled photons between space and Earth, a foundational capability for a wide range of applications including distributed quantum computing, quantum sensing, and secure synchronization protocols.

While SpeQtral’s near-term commercial model is centered on space-based QKD, the technologies being validated, including entangled photon links, free-space optical channels, and environmental signal analysis, support the longer-term ambition of globally interconnected quantum information networks. These networks will allow quantum computers, sensors, and nodes to communicate securely and coherently across continents, extending the reach of quantum protocols far beyond terrestrial infrastructure.

What Is Quantum Communication — and Why Space?

Quantum communication uses the principles of quantum mechanics, especially entanglement and superposition, to transmit information in ways that are inherently secure. One of the most well-known applications is QKD, where encryption keys are shared using quantum states that, if observed or tampered with, alert both parties to an intrusion attempt.

This is intended for immunity from interception, including concerns around the future potential of quantum computers that are capable of breaking today’s public-key cryptosystems.

There are two main approaches to quantum key distribution: terrestrial and satellite-based. Both use the quantum properties of particles, typically photons, to transmit encryption keys that are secure by design. The difference is in how far those keys can be shared.

Terrestrial QKD uses fiber optic cables. While it works well over short distances, quantum signals weaken quickly due to scattering and absorption in the fiber. This limits practical range to a few hundred kilometers unless trusted nodes are used to relay the signal.

Space-based QKD sends photons through space, where signal loss is naturally much lower. This allows secure key exchange over thousands of kilometers and makes it possible to connect distant ground stations, which is an essential step toward a global quantum communication network.

SpeQtral’s quantum satellite and Thales’s quantum ground station are being developed to support the experimental validation of free-space quantum communication links, with a focus on entangled photon transmission between space and Earth. While this capability is necessary for quantum key distribution, it is also a foundational step toward broader quantum network applications, such as distributed quantum computing, precision time transfer, and the long-term vision of a global quantum internet.

Environmental Complexity Meets Quantum Fragility

While space reduces signal loss compared to fiber, it introduces other challenges, including temperature variation, atmospheric turbulence, and signal distortion as photons pass back through the atmosphere. To better understand and mitigate these effects, Thales Alenia Space is equipping its quantum ground station with environmental sensors that monitor local conditions and their impact on signal quality. These measurements will inform system calibration and help define the performance boundaries for future large-scale deployments.

This pairing of quantum optics and real-time environmental data is a hallmark of next-generation ground segment design. It suggests that the future of satellite quantum communication isn’t just about getting photons from point A to point B, but about managing the fidelity and resilience of that signal across changing conditions.

From Demo to Market: Mapping the Emerging Quantum Space Economy

The SpeQtral–Thales Alenia Space partnership reflects a broader trend of quantum entering the space domain. Numerous companies globally are now developing quantum payloads, photon sources, entangled photon pair emitters, quantum repeaters, and secure network architectures. As evidenced by a recent report from Space Insider on QKD, governments from Canada to the EU and China are actively investing in quantum-secure communication and orbital infrastructure.

But the market remains fragmented. Players operate at different levels of maturity, with diverging technical roadmaps and uncertain deployment timelines. For decision-makers across public and commercial sectors, understanding who is building what, and how close they are to operational readiness, is a growing challenge.

According to Space Insider’s QKD market analysis, the space-based QKD vendor market alone is projected to reach a cumulative value of $4.5B by 2030, growing from $0.5B in 2025 to $1.1B at a CAGR of 16%. This includes system integrators, ground station upgrades, terminal retrofits, and quantum interface development. Within that, QKD satellite vendors account for $3.7B of the projected value, reflecting the growing demand for payload and integration capabilities.

Yet vendor-side activity only tells part of the story. On the end-user side, the QKD market is projected to reach $3.5B annually by 2030, with a cumulative revenue opportunity of $9.3B over the 2025–2030 period. Government and diplomatic customers are expected to drive over 60% of this demand, particularly in the early years, as commercial uptake lags behind infrastructure rollout.

At Space Insider, we provide the tools and context to navigate this complexity.

Our platform maps real-time company activity, tracks partnership signals, and identifies which firms are actively advancing space-based QKD. Users can explore the underlying technologies these companies are developing, see how much funding they’ve secured, and assess where investment and innovation are converging.

Through our advisory services, we support agencies, OEMs, and integrators with tailored insight into market size, supply chain readiness, technology benchmarking, and procurement strategy. Whether shaping policy, scouting suppliers, or building go-to-market roadmaps, our intelligence helps clarify the commercial and strategic landscape.

Where Quantum in Space Stands and What Comes Next

The move toward space-based quantum communication reflects an evolving set of priorities around data security, national infrastructure, and global interoperability. As quantum technologies mature, space becomes an increasingly strategic domain.

Still, the move from demonstration to commercial deployment is nontrivial. The ecosystem is populated by a mix of early-stage ventures, established aerospace firms, and publicly funded initiatives, all operating on different timelines and technical baselines. As stakeholders push forward, the ability to understand who is building what, how, and with whom will be essential.

To explore the full market map and QKD insights, request access to our latest report or get a limited view of the platform here.

• Thales Alenia Space, led by Telespazio, will design and develop the space segment for the European Space Agency’s Moonlight program.
• The company will also oversee key elements of the Earth mission segment and conduct the testing and validation of the first-ever satellite navigation system in lunar orbit.
• Image credit: ESA

Telespazio announced that the company and Thales Alenia Space will design and develop the space segment for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Moonlight program. The program aims to establish a satellite constellation in lunar orbit to enable precise navigation for lunar landings, surface mobility, and high-speed communication between Earth and the Moon.

As part of the collaboration, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the design, development, and deployment of four lunar elliptical orbit navigation satellites. The company will also oversee key elements of the Earth mission segment and conduct the testing and validation of the first-ever satellite navigation system in lunar orbit.

Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO of Thales Alenia Space, emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “We are extremely proud to be a key pillar in the Moonlight program, providing the navigation system and infrastructure that will orbit around the Moon. Our collaboration with Telespazio will ensure the development of a complete turnkey solution for ESA.”

Telespazio’s CEO, Gabriele Pieralli, echoed this sentiment, noting, “Together, we are providing ESA with an innovative solution for lunar navigation, combining our expertise with Thales’ engineering excellence.”

• Thales Alenia Space has signed an €862 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to design, develop, and deliver the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for the Argonaut mission, which will transport cargo and scientific instruments to the Moon starting in the 2030s.
• The Argonaut lander is designed for adaptability, capable of delivering rovers, scientific payloads, and infrastructure to support long-term lunar exploration, while strengthening Europe’s role in space transportation.
• Thales Alenia Space will lead an industrial consortium with OHB System AG and its subsidiaries in France and the UK, focusing on avionics, propulsion, guidance, and telecommunications for the lunar lander.
• Image: Thales Alenia Space/Briot

PRESS RELEASE — Thales Alenia Space, joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), worth € 862 Million, related to the design, the development and the delivery of the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for ESA’s Argonaut Mission, including responsibility for mission design and integration.

Planned to be launched from the 2030s, Argonaut will deliver cargo, infrastructure and scientific instruments to the Moon’s surface.

The first mission is envisioned to deal with delivery of dedicated navigation and telecommunication payloads as well as energy generation and storage system, as European enterprises to explore the Lunar southern area.

About Argonaut

The Argonaut spacecraft consists of three main elements: the lunar descent element (LDE) for flying to the Moon and landing on the target, the cargo platform one, which is the interface between the lander and its payload, and finally, the element that the mission designers want to send to the Moon.

Adaptability is a key element of Argonaut’s design, which is why the cargo platform is designed to accept any mission profile: cargo for astronauts near the landing site, a rover, technology demonstration packages, production facilities using lunar resources, a lunar telescope or even a power station. The project will strengthen Thales Alenia Space’s skills in several technological areas essential to space exploration beyond the Moon.

The future space ecosystem requires new solutions dedicated to the transport and return of cargo from low Earth orbit and lunar orbit, as well as crew transport to low Earth orbit. Thales Alenia Space is ready to put in place what is needed to prepare for humanity’s future life and presence in Space, laying the foundations for the post-ISS era and meeting new economic needs for research and science.

Argonaut Consortium: Who Does What?

Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for the development of the Lunar Descent Element. The overall mission responsibility, ie the use of the LDE and integration with payload, will be the subject of a separate procurement in the future. The Lunar Descent Element is an independent architecture block of the international lunar exploration activities, namely a versatile system to support a variety of missions.

As prime contractor and system integrator of the Lunar Descent Element, Thales Alenia Space in Italy will lead the industrial consortium that will be responsible for the system, the entry descent and landing aspects, as well as the general and specific architectures of the thermomechanical, avionics and software chains. Thales Alenia Space in France and in the UK will respectively focus on data handling systems and propulsion. OHB System AG as additional core team member of the Thales Alenia Space consortium will be responsible for guidance, navigation and control (GNC), electrical power systems (EPS) and telecommunications (TT&C) aspects.

“Argonaut lunar lander means a lot to our company” said Hervé Derrey, Thales Alenia Space CEO. “Thanks to this astonishing space vehicle, tons of cargo will be delivered to the Moon’s surface, including rovers, scientific missions and many more. This new element of the Artemis program will serve at facilitating long-duration manned lunar exploration missions and will be crucial to increase European autonomy in lunar exploration. The Moon will also serve as a stepping stone for crewed missions into deep space, with Mars being the next stage of the journey. I wanted to express my gratitude to ESA for awarding this new contract to our company. Today’s major achievement strengthens more than ever Thales Alenia Space’s leading positions in the fields of space transportation systems, orbital infrastructures and space exploration”.

“We are truly honored that ESA has renewed its trust in our company by awarding Thales Alenia Space this major contract to develop the European lunar lander that will enable Europe to access autonomously to the Moon’s surface”, said Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO and Senior Vice President, Observation, Exploration and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space. “Today, with its longstanding expertise in space exploration infrastructure and vehicles, our company, in line with ESA’s and ASI’s visions, has decided to enhance its competitiveness by investing in the development of technological solutions to help Europe achieve its goals. Supplying a significant proportion of the International Space Station’s pressurized volume, playing a major role on board Artemis, manufacturing the backbone of Orion’s European service module and leading flagship transportation programs such as IXV or Space Rider, Thales Alenia Space is more than ever at the forefront of exploration and space transportation systems”.

]]> https://spaceinsider.tech/2025/01/28/thales-alenia-space-secures-367-million-esa-contract-for-venus-mission/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 18:55:27 +0000 https://spaceinsider.tech/?p=27717 Insider Brief

• Thales Alenia Space has signed a €367 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead the construction of the EnVision satellite.
• Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for the m and will be responsible for the entire satellite that hosts five scientific instruments as well as a radio science experiment.
• The EnVision mission will provide a holistic view of the planet, from its inner core to the upper atmosphere, in order to determine how and why Venus and Earth evolved so differently.

Thales Alenia Space has signed a €367 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead the construction of the EnVision satellite, marking a major step in exploring Venus, according to a company press release. The mission, set to launch in 2031, aims to unravel why Earth’s planetary twin evolved into an uninhabitable world.

“I wanted to sincerely thank the European Space Agency for putting its trust in our company,” Thales Alenia Space CEO Hervé Derrey said in the statement. “Thales Alenia Space took part to iconic space exploration and science interplanetary missions across the solar system, including Mars with ExoMars, Mercury with BepiColombo, the Sun with Solar Orbiter, asteroids and comets with Rosetta-Philae, Saturn with Cassini-Huygens, and tomorrow the Moon with Artemis, not to mention Euclid that will explore dark energy and dark matter to better understand the origin of the Universe’s accelerating expansion. This stunning mission will be a new step toward better understanding the deepest secrets of Venus, emphasizing in particular the many similarities and differences that exist between the Earth and the planet Venus, which is 41 million kilometers away from ours.”

EnVision will carry five advanced scientific instruments and a radio science experiment, supported by multiple international space agencies, including NASA, CNES (France), DLR (Germany), ASI (Italy), and BELSPO (Belgium), according to a company statement. The satellite will study Venus from its core to its upper atmosphere, examining geological history, volcanic activity, and climate to shed light on how such a similar planet became so hostile to life.

“We are extremely proud to announce our contribution to ESA’s EnVision mission in partnership with NASA, 20 years after the historic Venus Express mission. This new initiative, which follows on from the extraordinary BepiColombo and ExoMars 2016 missions, represents a significant milestone for the industry as well as for space research,” said Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO and Senior Vice President, Observation, Exploration and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space, in the statement. “The EnVision mission, involving major international partners, is an ambitious program that will help us unravel the mysteries of the evolution of Venus, a planet so similar to Earth in many respects, but at the same time so different. With our experience and commitment, we are determined to support this crucial planetary mission, which promises to further our knowledge of our solar system.”

Mission Goals and Challenges

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), will manage the satellite’s design and construction. The EnVision orbiter will be equipped with instruments like a Synthetic Aperture Radar (VenSAR) and a suite of spectrometers to map Venus’ surface, probe its subsurface, and analyze its atmospheric composition.

The mission will include a year-long aerobraking phase, where the spacecraft will use Venus’ thick atmosphere to reduce its orbital speed and achieve a stable, circular orbit. This phase is critical but risky, as atmospheric friction could destabilize the spacecraft or cause overheating, the company suggests. Thales Alenia Space team said its experience with aerobraking during the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission in 2016 will help mitigate these risks.

Once in a low-polar orbit, approximately 220 to 540 kilometers above Venus, EnVision will begin its primary scientific phase, which will last four Earth years. ESA authorized the next development phases, with the spacecraft system requirements review slated for 2025 and full authorization for construction expected in 2026.

International Collaboration

EnVision exemplifies international cooperation in space exploration. Thales Alenia Space will lead a team of industrial partners, including OHB, which will oversee the satellite’s mechanical and propulsion systems, and Thales Alenia Space in France, responsible for the Attitude and Orbit Control System. NASA will contribute deep space network support and the VenSAR radar, a vital tool for penetrating Venus’ dense cloud cover.

According to the company release, the instruments on EnVision will provide an unprecedented integrated view of Venus, offering insights into its volcanic and tectonic activity and how its thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere interacts with the planet’s surface.

Building on Experience

Thales Alenia Space highlighted its role in previous complex missions, such as the Euclid space telescope and ExoMars, as evidence of its capability to manage EnVision’s technical challenges.

The mission builds on Europe’s earlier Venus Express, which concluded in 2014. EnVision will delve deeper into Venus’ mysteries, exploring why two planets so similar in size and distance from the Sun diverged so dramatically in their evolution.

Looking Ahead

EnVision’s successful deployment could deepen humanity’s understanding of planetary systems and provide context for studying exoplanets with similar conditions. The mission is part of ESA’s Cosmic Vision program, adopted as the fifth medium-class mission in 2024.

“We are thrilled to partner with Thales Alenia Space on this ground-breaking new mission to Venus – said ESA Science Director, Prof. Carole Mundell, in the statement. “No other mission has ever attempted such a comprehensive investigation of our remarkably inhospitable neighbour. EnVision will answer fundamental questions about how a planet becomes habitable – or the opposite.”

• Thales Alenia Space and Hispasat have launched QKD-GEO, the first quantum key distribution system designed for geostationary orbit, enabling secure global communications from 36,786 km above Earth.
• The project will develop a quantum payload featuring a high-precision telescope and photon-based quantum technology to transmit encryption keys over vast distances, surpassing the limitations of fiber optics.
• This pioneering space initiative involves Spanish and European partners and includes field tests across the Canary Islands to validate the system before its operational deployment in orbit.
• Image: Thales Alenia Space_E.Briot

PRESS RELEASE — Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Hispasat, Redeia’s satellite services operator, have announced the start of the development, manufacturing, verification, and validation phase of the QKD-GEO prototype, Spain’s quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. With a budget of 103.5 million euros, the QKD-GEO mission is a project initiated by the Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures and funded by European funds from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PERTE Aeroespacial), for which contracting is managed by CDTI.

A paradigm shift in secure communications

The advent of quantum computers is providing much greater computational power than traditional computers for specific problems, including prime factor decomposition, which is the basis for current non-symmetric cryptography. This will lead to a paradigm shift in secure communications, as it will be possible for hackers with quantum computers to decrypt current encryptions in a matter of seconds. As such, it is essential to develop a system that allows information to be sent with the necessary safeguards in governmental communications (both civil and military), critical infrastructure management and economically, environmentally and technologically relevant services, as well as in large corporations. This technology also represents a first step towards a future quantum internet, which will represent a radical leap in global communications.

Quantum key distribution through an optical communications system makes it possible to confirm with certainty if the keys have been intercepted, as the integrity of communications is verified continuously thanks to the quantum properties of photons. Today, technology does not allow the use of fiber-optic-based connections for quantum communications for distances over hundreds of kilometers. However, the use of satellites for quantum key distribution is capable of covering large distances, as signal attenuation is lower in free space. Specifically, geostationary coverage at an altitude of 36,786 km, unlike other orbits, makes it possible to establish communications between entire continents with a single satellite, continuously and without the need for complex signal-tracking systems.

A disruptive and pioneering global project

Lasting a total of 24 months, the QKD-GEO project comprises the development of the various components for a future quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. Specifically, it encompasses the development of a quantum payload to be hosted on a geostationary satellite, as well as the associated ground segment. This is a disruptive and pioneering global project, since there is currently no quantum key distribution system in the world operating from geostationary orbit.

GEO-QKD has successfully completed the initial four-month system design phase, in which the system architecture has been established and the various elements of the system have been defined. The geostationary payload consists of a high-precision telescope with its pointing mechanism and integrated electronics, a quantum random number generator, a signal source of polarized photons, a laser beacon, and a processor for generating the keys and implementing the communications protocol. The ground segment consists of optical stations equipped with telescopes for receiving the photons transmitted from space and recovering the keys, as well as an operations center that organizes and controls all system activities, ensuring the smooth functioning of both the space segment and user interactions.

The project also includes a field test campaign with a 140-km atmospheric link between the islands of La Palma and Tenerife. These tests will enable functional validation of the ground segment and the quantum payload under fully representative conditions, prior to its implementation in an operational mission in orbit.

Thales Alenia Space is leading from Spain a large industrial consortium composed of Spanish and other European companies, including Thales Alenia Space in France and Switzerland, and with the participation of several entities specialized in the field of quantum communications, such as the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the University of Vigo. Meanwhile, Hispasat is responsible for the design of the geostationary mission and the definition of the business plan, with support from companies like Banco de Santander, BBVA, Telefónica, and Cellnex to analyze real use cases with the banking sector and terrestrial operators.

Spanish contribution to secure European space

In June 2019, the European Commission announced its position in favor of the European Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI), which will deploy the first quantum communications nodes in different EU countries in forthcoming years. These nodes, which will cover metropolitan areas, will be connected to each other by satellite to ensure their resilience. For that purpose, IRIS², the secure satellite communications system promoted by the Commission, developed by a consortium with the participation of Hispasat and for which Hispasat and Thales Alenia Space contributed to the preliminary study, will include these EuroQCI satellite connections among its missions. The QKD-GEO project will allow Spain to configure its main contribution to these European initiatives in the space sector.

Ismael López, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in Spain, said: “QKD-GEO mission represents a great technological challenge that will place Spanish industry at the forefront in quantum communications from geostationary orbit, a pioneering technology on a global level. We thank CDTI and our partner Hispasat for their faith in us to lead this ambitious project. At Thales Alenia Space, we firmly believe in a technology that is poised to revolutionize communication security in the coming years.”

Miguel Ángel Panduro, CEO of Hispasat, stated that “the establishment of encryption keys through a quantum protocol is going to represent a paradigm shift in the secure communications of the future, where space and satellites will be configured as the ideal infrastructure for their transmission over long distances. Therefore, for Hispasat it is essential to position itself at an international level in this field and, together with other Spanish companies and entities, contribute to positioning our country as a leader in quantum technology.”

Many organizations are working toward this endeavour – here are ten companies leading the charge:

Boeing

Founded: 1916 | Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Boeing is advancing quantum networking technology with its Q4S satellite mission, set to launch in 2026. This mission will test quantum entanglement swapping in space, a major leap in secure global quantum communication. The company envisions using this technology in deep space missions and satellite constellations for secure and precise communication systems.

Q-CTRL

Founded: 2017 | Headquarters: Sydney, Australia

Q-CTRL specializes in quantum control infrastructure, developing software to stabilize quantum hardware, particularly in environments like space where particles are more susceptible to interference. The company works with space agencies to create quantum sensors and communication systems capable of functioning reliably in space.

In 2021, Q-CTRL raised $25 million in Series B funding to support its work in quantum control solutions with applications in space communications.

Arqit

Founded: 2017 | Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Arqit is advancing quantum encryption technology through its QuantumCloud platform, offering secure satellite communication using quantum key distribution (QKD). This technology enables secure data transfer in space applications, providing a solution to the growing need for encrypted communications in space missions and commercial satellite operations.

In 2021, Arqit merged with Centricus Acquisition Corp. to raise $400 million to further develop its quantum encryption technologies for space.

Infleqtion

Founded: 2007 | Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado, USA

Infleqtion, previously known as ColdQuanta, focuses on cold atom quantum technology, critical for next-generation quantum sensors and timing systems used in space exploration. These sensors assist with precise space navigation and communication, offering high-precision tools for satellite guidance and Earth observation missions. NASA uses Infleqtion’s scalable and versatile cold atom technology on the International Space Station.

In 2022, Infleqtion secured $110 million in Series B funding to continue developing its quantum sensing technology for space.

RHEA Group

Founded: 1992 | Headquarters: Wavre, Belgium

RHEA Group is an established player in the space industry, focusing on secure satellite communication and system integration. In collaboration with SpeQtral, RHEA is working on a quantum-safe communication link between Singapore and Europe using SpeQtral’s satellite. This collaboration aims to demonstrate intercontinental quantum key distribution (QKD) to improve the security of space-related data transmission.

SBQuantum

Founded: 2018 | Headquarters: Sherbrooke, Canada

SBQuantum is advancing quantum diamond magnetometer technology, which has potential applications in space exploration. Their technology allows for precise magnetic field detection, aiding in navigation and exploration. In recent developments, SBQuantum secured contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to further develop their quantum magnetometer technology for space missions.

Thales Alenia Space

Founded: 2007 | Headquarters: Cannes, France

Thales Alenia Space is a leading European space company that designs, manufactures and delivers a wide range of advanced satellite-based systems and services for various space applications. The company is actively working on quantum computing and developing quantum key generation, distribution, and management equipment and the associated communication encryption devices, as well as defining the architecture of these quantum communication infrastructures. They are leading the European Space Agency’s TeQuantS project to develop quantum technologies for cybersecurity applications and future quantum information networks.

Microsoft (Azure Quantum)

Release date: 2021 | Headquarters: Redmond, USA

Microsoft is researching the possibility of creating a quantum computer using topological qubits. It has also released Microsoft Azure which gives cloud access to other quantum computers. Microsoft’s Azure Quantum is collaborating with the space industry to enhance satellite design, mission planning, and data processing through quantum computing. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is working with Azure Quantum to improve communication efficiency with spacecraft exploring the solar system and beyond.

Aegiq

Release date: 2019 | Headquarters: Sheffield, UK

Aegiq offers compact and energy-efficient photonic quantum computers, integrated photonics solutions, and application toolkits. The company’s product, Atlas is a specialized software tool that helps in planning, designing, and analyzing satellite-based quantum communication networks. It addresses several critical aspects of space-based quantum communications.

As quantum technologies advance, their integration into space applications is expected to accelerate breakthroughs across multiple domains, from cryptography to complex data analysis. However, this transition requires overcoming both technical limitations and the unique constraints of space missions. Companies that successfully navigate these challenges stand to pioneer new frontiers in space exploration and beyond. By building on foundational quantum innovations and fostering cross-sector collaboration, the space industry can harness quantum’s full potential to explore the cosmos more effectively, securely, and sustainably.