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China launches world’s first quantum satellite

But, it was none who could reach to any mentionable success, except our very own Asian neighbor – China.

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The launch of the Micius satellite – named after the ancient Chinese philosopher and scientist – is being billed by China as a major step in ultimate communications security.

RSGS is responsible for establishing satellite reception for China’s space sciences and has already built a network for near-earth satellite reception.

State media reported that the 631-kilogram (1,390-pound) satellite, Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Center in the Gobi Desert’s northwest at 1.40 a.m. Tuesday (1740GMT Monday).

The satellite is created to establish “hack-proof” quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground, and provide insights into the strangest phenomenon in quantum physics – quantum entanglement.

Though the quantum communications distance record now sits at about 100 km (62 miles) over optical fiber, Chinese scientists say they plan to attempt an even greater feat by transmitting entangled photons from Earth orbit. Theoretically, the information transmitted this way can not be hacked, as any observation of an encryption key transmitted in this way would change the quantum state, changing the key and rendering it useless. The system is said to use bursts of subatomic particles that are impossible to intercept and, if intercepted, the particles self-destruct, making eavesdropping almost impossible and alerting the sender that the communication was compromised. We are proud of you! Any attempts at eavesdropping will cause them to self-destruct.

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Weekly Blitz extends warmest greeting & congratulations to the people of China.

China's quantum satellite- nicknamed Micius after a 5th century BC Chinese scientist- blasts off from the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in China's northwest Gansu province