SPACE RACE 2.0 China to build secret ‘orbital internet’ using experimental satellite network

People's Republic takes the lead in race to build super-secure communications network of the future

China is preparing to begin building a super-secure version of the internet that’s broadcast from up in SPACE.

Beijing is set to launch the world’s first “quantum satellite” which is specifically designed to test out experimental communications technology.

Experts from the People’s Republic believe their work will spark a second space race as Russia, Europe and America compete to master the technology.

“Definitely, I think there will be a race,” said Chaoyang Lu, a physicist from the University of Science and Technology of China.

“If the first satellite goes well, China will definitely launch more.”

A Long March-2FT1 carrier rocket loaded with the unmanned Tiangong-1 blasts off from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China’s Gansu in 2011

Quantum technology will one day allow nation states to communicate totally securely.

It works by firing tiny particles called protons over long distances.

These can be sent in certain configurations to send messages. These missives are not only difficult to read, but they are hard to tamper with because any interference would leave an obvious trace.

Professor Lu believes a network of about 20 quantum satellites would allow China – or its competitors – to bring the secret internet to the whole world.

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are also working to master the tech, as well as NASA scientists.

The nation which masters the tech first is likely to reap both military and commercial benefits, because the ability to communicate in total secrecy could help big business as well as big armies, navies or air forces.

Having an internet based up in space would also be very useful for surveillance operations, as it would allow spies to snoop on Planet Earth using high resolution cameras whilst hiding resulting data from the public or enemy nations.