SEAQUE (Space Entanglement and Annealing QUantum Experiment)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Paul Kwiat University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

Overview: This experiment aims to successfully allow quantum-level communication in space with the use of entanglement.

The SEAQUE platform is a rectangle 3-D box with four smaller rectangle plates screwed on to the box that contains software to perform experiments on the space station.

The image is of the Space Entanglement and Annealing QUantum Experiment (SEAQUE) integrated on the MISSE-20 platform for launch to the ISS on SpaceX-31. MISSE is a platform for experiments on the outside of ISS exposing instrumentation directly to the space environment. SEAQUE will conduct experiments in quantum entanglement while being exposed to the radiation environment of space.

Science objectives:

To create and validate a new technology in space to improve how quantum computers communicate
To make communications easier and much stronger between quantum systems across significant distances
To confirm the feasibility of devices that would allow secure connections between quantum receivers and transmitters far apart

Potential Earth applications:

To connect quantum networks globally with distances hundreds to thousands of miles away
To measure gravity changes down to the minute and gain new information on Earth’s place in the universe

Potential space applications:

To increase communication of technologies in space at great distances apart
To develop the basis of quantum cloud computing
To create a technique to allow for the self-healing of space-based nodes damaged by radiation

Related resources:

MISSE-20-Commerc ial

Space Station to Host ‘Self-Healing’ Quantum Communications Tech Demo - NASA

NASA Science on Health, Safety to Launch on 31st SpaceX Resupply Missi on

NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Divisio n pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.