06 Aug. First quantum computer in space
An international team led by Professor Philip Walther from the University of Vienna has developed a photonic quantum computer that has been sent into space. The rocket launch took place on June 20 in Vandenberg, California. Equipped with the quantum processor, the satellite is now orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 550 km.
Edge computer in orbit
Philip Walther and his research group Quantum Information Science and Quantum Computation at the University of Vienna have done some pioneering work by developing the first quantum computer to be sent into space. A particular challenge for the team was to build the quantum computer in such a way that it could withstand the extreme conditions in space. According to the researchers, the quantum computer offers a decisive advantage over previous space technologies: it enables edge computing. This means that data is processed directly on the satellite. This saves time and energy, as the data does not have to be transmitted via communication channels. Instead, the satellite delivers the analysis results – for example, the detection of a forest fire – directly.
Teamwork from different fields
The system developed by the Viennese quantum physicists is also designed to be versatile and can be adapted for future missions. In the final project phase before the satellite’s launch, a team of 12 people from the University of Vienna spent four weeks in a special clean room at the DLR Responsive Space Cluster Competence Center in Trauen, where the flight model for the satellite payload was assembled in just 11 working days. Expertise from the fields of quantum physics, space technology, electronics, and software development was utilized in the process.
European quantum research strengthened
According to Walther, this project strengthens Europe’s and Austria’s pioneering status in quantum research. “This mission enables us to test the performance and durability of quantum hardware under extreme conditions – we can investigate how long it remains functional in the harsh environment of space,” explains Walther.
For the current satellite project, the team at the University of Vienna collaborated with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the National Research Council (CNR) in Milan, and the Vienna-based start-up Qubo Technology.
Quelle: www.univie.ac.at