The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Among the most mature applications is secure communications based on ‘quantum key distribution’. Current secure data sharing is based on the sharing of ‘cryptography keys’ between sender and recipient. Today, such keys are normally shared through classical communication channels using mathematical algorithms or by human couriers.
As a more secure alternative, quantum key distribution exchanges keys based on quantum physical properties of light particles. This can be performed using laser links from satellites, to cover much larger distances compared to optical fibres where the quantum signals are more quickly perturbed.