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- Weekly Takeaways-May 5, 2023
Theme of the Week Security vs. Resilience, and Why You Need Both There is a difference between resilience and security. A resilient network is resistant to outages; a secure network is resistant to eavesdropping. For any network, including satellite systems, these are two different design considerations. Security Security comes from the CIA triad: protecting against outsiders getting access to (confidentiality), modifying (integrity), and disrupting access to your information (availability, which is also a component of resiliency). RF links from satellites are subject to eavesdropping (breaking confidentiality), spoofing (integrity), and jamming (removing availability). Security is achieved primarily through sophisticated encryption and anti-jamming techniques (changing power levels and frequency). But security is always a game of one-upmanship. Even proving your secure network is actually secure is a challenge. This is the promise of quantum communications: leveraging the laws of physics to ensure a secure link, a topic that was discussed at a recent QED-C webinar focused on Network Security. Resilience At its simplest definition, resilience is the ability to withstand difficulties. For a system architecture, the US Air Force defines resiliency as the ability "to continue providing required capabilities in the face of system failures, environmental challenges, or adversary actions." There is a growing recognition that our satellite systems, including GPS, are vulnerable because they "were designed for a peaceful, benign environment without a threat." But those days are over with the recent scary advancements in anti-satellite weapons. Moving towards resilient space systems is now a priority (see below). It should be noted that for position, navigation, and timing (PNT) users, assurance is also critical. This means maintaining multiple sources in case one part of the system is compromised. Last Week's Theme: Back on the Horse Industry News Recently leaked documents noted that China has the capability “to hold key U.S. and Allied space assets at risk” if there was a “conflict with Taiwan.” The Center for Strategic & International Studies released their “Seven Critical Technologies for Winning the Next War” that includes quantum and space-based technology, including “alternatives to GPS systems." The US Department of Defense (DoD) plans to “normalize space as an operational domain” after a space strategic review found that China was a “pacing challenge.” In the wake of the launch of their third quantum satellite, China talked about their plans for "a global, all-day quantum communication network" that includes: Three to five small QKD satellites in sun-synchronous orbits that provide links between cities. MEO-to-GEO satellites with 600mm diameter optical telescopes for intercontinental quantum communications. These satellites will link to compact ground stations. France officially launched their FranceQCI Quantum Communications Infrastructure project led by Orange and co-funded by the European Commission EuroQCI initiative. “The short answer is yes, we're in a space race to get to the Moon with China,” according to NASA. They are on the case with a “Moon-to-Mars Architecture Definition Document” with an “architecture to return humans to the moon as a step towards eventual missions to Mars.” The DoD prepared a “Rapid Response to Emergent Technology Advancement or Threats” proposal that would grant them “the ability to begin development of new-start programs up to their preliminary design review level of maturity.” ‘Smart cities’ can be ‘almost anything you want,’ according to mayors from the U.S. and Canada. Who invented the measurement of time? Conferences Commercialising Quantum Global, May 17 - 19, London UK European Navigation Conference, May 31 - June 2, Noordwijk, The Netherlands Joint Navigation Conference, June 12 - 15, San Diego, CA Quantum 2.0 Conference, June 18 - 22, Denver, CO Q4I, June 27 – 29, Rome, New York Small Satellite, August 5 – 10, Logan, Utah Euroconsult, September 11 – 15, Paris, France APSCC, October 10 – 12, KL, Malaysia ITSF, Oct 30 – Nov 2, Antwerp, Belgium UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase 2023, Nov 2, London, UK SLUSH, Nov 30 – Dec 1, Helsinki, Finland The More You Know... A lot of attention is focused on security, but resiliency is even more critical for satellite systems. After all, what is the point of security if there are no communications? Satellites in particular are sitting ducks, and not just against anti-satellite missiles. The US Space Force chief of space operations recently described “an incredibly sophisticated array of threats” that includes jamming, spacecraft that can grapple other satellites, lasers that can dazzle them, cyberattacks, and even “nesting dolls,” or satellites that release others that spread out and track adversaries’ spacecraft. This was echoed in a recent US DOD Directive that outlined concerns “about the vulnerability of GPS systems to attack or interference," noting that adversaries "already have a variety of counterspace weapons that could degrade or disrupt GPS satellites and associated systems and impede U.S. military operations.” The solution? There is no magic technology that ensures resilience. Instead, it requires proper system design. Resiliency in networks can best be achieved through a "belts and suspenders" approach that embraces disaggregation and redundancy. The head of the Space Development Agency described his idea of a resilient satellite architecture of a large quantities of satellites in different orbits: “We'll put up hundreds and hundreds of satellites…[that] are more affordable than the missiles that you need to shoot them down.” China has also embraced resiliency with their BeiDou system. It already consists of 42 satellites in a mix of MEO, GEO, and inclined GEO orbits. Their vision is to expand to a "space segment, a ground segment and a user segment," with a 120-satellite low earth orbit (LEO) constellation, Loran-C, inertial sensors, and future systems like quantum navigation.
- Weekly Takeaways-April 27, 2023
Theme of the Week Back on the Horse Over the course of an eventful week the barriers to space were dramatically lowered. On Thursday, the largest rocket in human history flew for over 3 minutes before ending with a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” Five days later, a private company attempted to join an exclusive club by putting a lander on the moon. On the face of it, these efforts were unsuccessful. But by all other metrics they were huge steps forwards. In the olden days (only a decade ago) space was the domain of government agencies. Their missions were infamous for being overly cautious, over budget and over schedule. Then came the new space paradigm: failure is an acceptable step towards success. All successful companies go through it – but unlike buggy beta software releases that are quietly patched later, space missions tend to be public and spectacular. Doesn’t matter that the ispace lunar lander likely crashed; they are already planning to return to the moon next year, joined by Astrobotics and Intuitive Machines later this year and Astrolabs in 2026. Of course, you have to be extra careful when it comes to sending humans into space. While the second Artemis mission will be nearly two years after the first successful mission, the next Starship test flight is expected within “a few months” with “hundreds of missions” before launching humans. When you have a long trail ahead, you can either wait for perfect conditions. Or you can start riding. Last Week's Theme: World Quantum Day Edition Industry News Reports are emerging of Ukraine’s effective GPS spoofing so that Russian “drones had been fooled into thinking they were in a no-fly zone, and had ceased operating.” Thales Alenia Space announced the TeQuantS quantum satellite “aimed at developing quantum space-to-Earth communications technologies,” with support from the European Space Agency (ESA), the French space agency CNES and Austrian space agency ALR. India announced a $730M National Quantum Mission “to scale-up scientific & industrial R&D for quantum technologies." The US Office of the Secretary of Defense requested $75M for a “Quantum Transition Acceleration” stating that “research and development of quantum technologies is critical to maintaining the nation’s technological superiority.” Meanwhile, the US Air Force is requesting $55.4B to fund research, development, test and evaluation efforts in fiscal 2024. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Quadrennial Homeland Security Review includes a focus on emerging technologies like quantum and space with the goal of “expanding its technology scouting efforts to understand new developments from the private sector.” The technology that enables the $700B smart city market continues to grow, but it also brings vulnerability, according to a “Cybersecurity Best Practices for Smart Cities” report: “The digital transformation of infrastructure can improve daily life, but increased connectivity may also expand attack surfaces and introduce new risks.” Included in the recent leak of classified documents: The Pentagon confirmed that Russia’s jamming of GPS was more effective than they originally let on: “A larger problem is that Russia is using GPS jamming to interfere with the weapons’ targeting process...American officials believe Russian jamming is causing the JDAMs, and at times other American weapons such as guided rockets, to miss their mark.” As part of China's broader strategy to establish dominance in space by 2045, they are developing the capability “to seize control of a satellite, rendering it ineffective to support communications, weapons, or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.” The More You Know... Contested space and the need for commercial solutions was a common theme at Space Symposium: The head of the US Space Force wants to “aggressively dismantle old processes and procedures” citing the concerns about anti-satellite weapons and grappling satellites. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released their annual Space Threat Assessment that mentioned GPS 37 times and the Ukraine conflict: “Commercial space capabilities are making a significant contribution to the fight and have provided Ukraine access to space that they do not have organically. Commercial space has served as a great equalizer, allowing Ukrainian forces to have the necessary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and command and control.” The Space Foundation estimated the value of the global space economy at $469B, with the commercial sector representing three-quarters of that and "roughly 55% higher than just a decade ago," even though space investment was non-existent until roughly five years ago, according to Quilty Analytics. The Secure World Foundation released their 2023 Global Counterspace Capabilities Report that, not surprisingly, highlighted the “growing concern from multiple governments over the reliance on vulnerable space capabilities for national security, and the corresponding proliferation of offensive counterspace capabilities that could be used to disrupt, deny, degrade, or destroy space systems.” The Pentagon’s chief technology officer stated their goal to “incorporate the incredible innovation ecosystem of the commercial space economy and link them into our joint warfighting concepts to access and accelerate capability adoption.” The US government designated 16 critical infrastructure sectors “so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact.” But surprisingly, space isn’t on that list, so the Foundation for Defense of Democracies argues it is time to change that.
- Weekly Takeaways: World Quantum Day 2023 Edition
Theme of the Week Happy World Quantum Day! Two days ago we celebrated Yuri's Night by looking at the advances in the space industry since 1961. Today we celebrate World Quantum Day, designated to promote "public awareness and understanding of quantum science and technology around the world." April 14 isn't the anniversary of a major event, but a fun reference to the first digits of Planck’s constant (4.14 ×10−15 electronvolt seconds), the same way 3/14 is "Pi Day". There isn't a major anniversary to celebrate because there was no "first human in space" type of event to memorialize; quantum mechanics was developed through a combination of research, papers, thought and lab experiments, and rigorous debate over the last century. A lot of the early concepts were initially met with skepticism, but through this process, we have reached the point where we are manipulating the quantum properties of particles for practical and amazing applications. We are now in the midst of the Second Quantum Revolution. Quantum Technologies All quantum technologies leverage quantum properties and can be broken into three main branches: Quantum Computing – a new (but fundamentally different) type of computer that leverages the quantum properties of particles to create qubits that could solve previously intractable problems. Quantum Sensing (also sometimes referred to as Quantum Metrology) – uses the quantum properties of particles for very stable clocks and sensitive inertial, electromagnetic, gravity, and magnetic field sensors. Quantum Communications (also sometimes referred to as Quantum Networking) – leverage the quantum properties of photons (particles of light) for applications like quantum random number generation (useful for cryptography), quantum key distribution (the secure distribution of encryption keys), and Xairos’ focus: quantum time transfer (secure and accurate timing for PNT and networking applications). The Quantum Arms Race The incredible applications enabled by quantum technologies has created a sort of global quantum arms race, with $30B of sovereign funding in quantum research (according to QURECA) in 2022 across the globe: The United States: Focused on quantum networks and post-quantum cryptography, with the announcement of new quantum funding. New quantum testbeds were announced as part of public-private partnerships to develop quantum networks and research, including the EPB Quantum Network in Tennessee, the Washington Metropolitan Quantum Network Research Consortium (DC-QNet), the Chicago Quantum Exchange, and NY Quantum Internet Testbed. The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act to develop “encryption strong enough to resist attacks from quantum computers” was signed into law. Europe: The European Commission (EC) announced two quantum network initiatives, the Quantum Internet Alliance and the HYPERSPACE research project, as well as a plan for a broadband constellation that will “leverage quantum encryption to secure the network.” The European Space Agency and SES announced the Eagle-1 quantum satellite. China: By some estimates (including recent McKinsey and Deloitte reports) China was the leader in global quantum funding. A recent report claims that “China has a 'stunning lead' over the US in the research of 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies,” including quantum communications and quantum sensors. As a comparison to their approach to quantum: China’s public spending on quantum is four times higher than the US. US private investment in quantum is over 1350% higher than in China. There are over 10x the number of quantum startups and 6x quantum investors in the US to China. Interestingly, China holds over 30% quantum patents than the US. However, the patents resided in the US are accredited in globally respected journals for their scientific impact and innovation. China is the leader in quantum satellites, launching their third quantum satellite as a follow-up to a quantum payload on Tiangong-2 and Micius quantum satellite. China is also rolling out a quantum network extending across the country. UK -released their $2.5B National Quantum Strategy. Singapore- opened a Quantum Networks Experience Centre and announced a National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) and new partnerships for their quantum satellite. South Korea -announced the development of quantum cryptography communication networks, while Samsung added quantum random number generation chips to enhance the security of their cell phones. Japan -unveiled a new quantum strategy and will “revamp its national quantum technology strategy, aiming to become self-sufficient in the area,” while also working with US partners. Australia - released their vision of a quantum future. India - allocated over $1B towards a National Mission on Quantum Technology and Applications (NMQTA), including a national quantum communication network. Taiwan - announced plans to invest $273M in quantum technology development. Russia – announced they are setting up a National Quantum Laboratory. Canada –announced a National Quantum Strategy including plans for the QEYSSat quantum satellite. The Quantum Divide The downside of this development: the growing quantum divide between the quantum haves (the 17 countries that are investing in quantum research) from the have-nots (everyone else). The World Economic Forum (WEF) believes that "quantum technology will exponentially accelerate the Fourth Industrial Revolution," and has raised calls for greater cooperation in quantum research between countries. And the Nobel Prize goes to... ...Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger, who were jointly award the 2022 Nobel Prize for their groundbreaking “experiments utilizing entangled photons to resolve a long-standing debate in the early history of quantum mechanics." That debate: the famous "spooky action at a distance" question that was settled with brilliant experiments that demonstrated Bell's inequality. Entanglement as a consequence of quantum mechanics was pointed out and elaborated on by Albert Einstein and colleagues in the famous 1935 EPR paper. But Einstein found the idea of nonlocal entanglement, the so-called “spooky action at a distance”, deeply problematic since, while it doesn't directly violate relativity, it certainly violates the spirit of local influences and causes at the conceptual heart of relativity. Because of this Einstein favored the idea that a local hidden variable was at work such that quantum mechanics was an incomplete description of reality resulting from an averaging over these local hidden variables. Nearly 30 years later, the physicist John Stewart Bell derived a mathematical relation, known as the Bell inequality, that demonstrated that any such local hidden variable theory could not reproduce all of the predictions of quantum mechanics. Thus, Bell's theorem said it was possible in principle to experimentally test if the actual world corresponds to the predictions of quantum mechanics or of some deeper theory that uses local, hidden variables. What seemed to be a philosophical question was now potentially an experimental one. However, "Bell’s inequality, while massively significant as a theoretical construct, was not at first of much use experimentally; the result itself of a thought experiment, it couldn’t be squared with practical detector technology. The three 2022 physics laureates found ways to circumvent those difficulties, and to advance studies of entanglement firmly into the realm of experimental science." It is important to note that all of the progress that has been made in quantum information science and quantum technologies owes a huge debt to all of these pioneers that dared to seriously ask such a fundamental question about reality, and who were not dissuaded by accusations of the worthlessness of their research by many of their influential contemporaries. Want to Learn More? To learn more about: the "fascinating world of quantum computing," check out the Qureka! Box. quantum investment, check out The Quantum Insider Quantum Intelligence Platform. the quantum marketplace, check out the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C). US quantum development, check out National Quantum Initiative.
Other Pages (11)
- Time Synchronization | Xairos Systems Inc.
QUANTUM COMMUNICATIONS H igh Precision, High Security, Time Distribution, on a Global Scale. XAIROS TECH ABOUT US INVESTING The Problem GPS is outdated and has reached its maximum upgradeable potential. It can not advance and support the new evolution of technology that is driving our economy and that will drive our future economies. The Solution Xairos Patented technology, Quantum Clock Synchronization (QCS ). The next-gen PNT served with a side of Quantum Tech. The Value A pathway to the future that provides an alternative to GPS that advances security, speed, and positioning accuracy solving the current problems and advancing PNT technologies. Xairos is now offering on Start Engine . We believe that the diversity of our investors strengthens our company. Grab a share of the future. Be part of the Quantum Revolution in Telecommunications. Upcoming Events July 19 - Time Appliances Project presentation (invitation from Meta ) September (TBC) – presentation at International Timing and Sync Forum 2023 October (TBC) – presentation at National Space-based PNT Advisory Board January 2024 – presentation at Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications (PTTI) meeting NEWSLETTERS & ARTICLES Weekly Takeaways-May 5, 2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG May 5 4 min Weekly Takeaways-April 27, 2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG Apr 27 4 min Weekly Takeaways: World Quantum Day 2023 Edition Weekly Takeaways David Mitlyng Apr 17 5 min Weekly Takeaways-Yuri's Night Edition Weekly Takeaways David Mitlyng Apr 14 3 min Weekly Takeaways-March 29,2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG Mar 29 3 min Weekly Takeaways March 23, 2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG Mar 23 4 min Weekly Takeaways-March 9, 2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG Mar 9 4 min Weekly Takeaways-March 2, 2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG Mar 3 3 min Weekly Takeaways-One Year Later GPS DAVID MITLYNG Feb 24 2 min Weekly Takeaways-February 23, 2023 Weekly Takeaways David Mitlyng Feb 23 3 min Weekly Takeaways-February 15, 2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG Feb 16 3 min Weekly Takeaways-February 7, 2023 Weekly Takeaways DAVID MITLYNG Feb 7 2 min powered by We proudly stand with Ukaine support image
- In The News | Xairos
IN THE NEWS HOME Featured presentation and interview at the America’s Seed Fund Startup Expo 2023 . Space Foundation Global Alliance Webinar and Speaker Series: “Quantum Optical Communications as a Replacement for GPS ” Foundation for the Future podcast QED-C Quantum Marketplace presentation: “Network Security Post Quantum ” "What is the Quantum Internet? And why should you care ?" presentation. “Quantum Time Transfer: An Overview ” keynote at the Workshop on Synchronization and Timing Systems “Quantum Communications Overview ” based on our APSCC presentation . “Global Time Distribution via Satellite-Based Sources of Entangled Photons ” LSU/Xairos presentation. March: Chattanooga launches “Gig City Goes Quantum” to prepare for the Quantum Age https://epb.com/newsroom/press-releases/chattanooga-launches-gig-city-goes-quantum/ So happy to be a part of this industry alliance: https://openpnt.org/open-pnt-industry-alliance-welcomes-xairos-systems-as-latest-member/ February: Xairos goes live on Start Engine . Some 2021-2022 Highlites: N ovember 2022 Xairos welcomes our new Advisory Board. The Xairos Advisory Board : Dr. Raphael Pooser (Quantum Advisor), Nino De Falcis (Timing Advisor), Adam Sturmer (Business Strategy Advisor), and Chris Green (Finance Advisor)! Blockbuster Event Highlights Cutting-Edge Technologies Everything from Lasers to Lidar, Sensors to Satellites T he Colorado Photonics Industry Association (CPIA), focused on growing the ecosystem of photonics companies, education, and research in Colorado, brings its first-ever Colorado Photonics Expo and Gala. With 26 speakers, 19 exhibitors, 5 speaker tracks, a career panel for students, and a gala featuring two leaders in the photonics industry, the event will provide you with inspiration and information in a concentrated format. Speaker tracks include aerospace and remote sensing, biomedical technologies, advanced manufacturing, quantum technologies, and augmented/virtual reality. Come hear our CEO, Mr. David Mitlyng talk about Quantum Technologies and Xairos. https://www.coloradophotonics.org/cophotonicsexpo/ Xairos Live On Startup Stars I n this episode, we chat with David Mitlyng one of the Co-Founders of Xairos Xairos is a global timing service seeking to replace GPS technology using quantum communication technology! Tune in to learn a little about David & the inspiration behind Xairos! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMmn9mNSy7w Hear all about new satellites that will provide the backbone for quantum clock synchronization – and more! Xairos founder David Mitlyng shares some history, other applications, and why microseconds matter for timing! Listen in or read below to find out what this means, how it works, and why it’s important. (Hint: Think GPS.) https://apogeospatial.com/global-timing-with-quantum-technologies-in-space-with-david-mitlyng-ceo-of-xairos/ Xairos live on Spaced Ventures, March 9, 2022( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw2y-5R3Ywh7Hjy_Anw8wEg ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fBBAcIf21c&t=4989s Quantum Communications Primer at APSCC 2022 (Conference Day 3 Afternoon Sessions). CEO David Mitlyng gave an address on Quantum Communications. Xairos Selected for Techstars Space Accelerator Class of 2021, June 7, 2021 (Techstars Newsroom ) Xairos Announces Selection into Prestigious Techstars Space Accelerator and Brand Update, June 8, 2021 (Business Wire ) Quantum Communications, “Spooky” Quantum Entanglement, and Applications in the Space Industry, March 2021 (Kratos Defense Constellations Podcast ) Quantum Communications in Space: A Deeper Dive, March 2021 (Kratos interview) We are officially announced as part of the CO quantum delegation heading to Helsinki. Check us out: Slush 2022 Helsinki Conference is an early-stage business venture capital investment conference focused on tech and advanced industries sectors from around the world. OEDIT's Global Business Development (GBD) division will be attending in November, along with Colorado businesses, academics, trade associations, venture capitalists, and governmental representatives focused on the quantum computing industry. The team is also coordinating the visit with Business Finland and the Finnish Embassy as part of Colorado's Memorandum of Understanding with the country of Finland.Slush 2022 Helsinki. Some Video Lin ks: https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fBBAcIf21c&t=4989s Quantum Communications Primer at APSCC 2022 (Conference Day 3 Afternoon Sessions). CEO David Mitlyng gave an address on Quantum Communications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=747DpuWX1wA : The Problem With GPS Satellites (Not Navigation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COlnWjXvvPw :Q2B 2021 | Q2B Start-Up Pitch Day | Six Pitches
- Conferences | Xairos Systems Inc.
CONFERENCES HOME Join us at: Assured Positioning, Navigation & Timing (APNT) Summit , May 10 - 11, National Harbor, MD Commercialising Quantum Global , May 17 - 19, London UK Quantum 2.0 Conference , June 18 - 22, Denver, CO Q4I , June 27 – 29, Rome, New York Small Satellite , August 5 – 10, Logan, Utah Euroconsult , September 11 – 15, Paris, France APSCC , October 10 – 12, KL, Malaysia ITSF , Oct 30 – Nov 2, Antwerp, Belgium UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase 2023, Nov 2, London, UK SLUSH , Nov 30 – Dec 1, Helsinki, Finland Building a Global Timing Solution