Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) concerning SAGA (Secure And cryptoGrAphic) mission. The contract covers the system definition and preliminary design of a fully European end-to-end Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system for governmental use.
ESA’s SAGA Mission, first introduced during the 2019 edition of ESA’s Ministerial Council Conference and the refined in 2022, has been developed in close collaboration with the European Commission as the space-based element of the EuroQCI initiative. Progress on the EuroQCI implementation continues, with the European Commission’s upcoming Union Secure Connectivity program regulation to oversee its operational rollout.
The project is supported by multiple space agencies, including the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Austrian Space Agency (ASA), the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), the French space agency (CNES), as well as the Swiss Space Agency (SSO). Additional agencies are expected to join as the mission advances, expanding its objectives. The mission is funded under ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), part of the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.
“With SAGA, our aim is to ambitiously advance satellite communications, furthering Europe’s digital sovereignty, cybersecurity and industrial competitiveness in the quantum era. We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Thales Alenia Space, which puts our Member States at the forefront of the race for truly secure connectivity,” said Laurent Jaffart, Director of ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications.
“I am very pleased that Thales Alenia Space will contribute to strengthening Europe’s technological independence by advancing optical and quantum technologies,” said Thales Alenia Space CEO, Hervé Derrey. “By leveraging its longstanding expertise in secure space communications and cutting-edge quantum technologies, Thales Alenia Space is proud to collaborate with ESA and multiple European space agencies for a secure and resilient connectivity infrastructure that will benefit governments and citizens alike, paving the way for the future of commercial optical communications both in Europe and worldwide.”
