The Security And cryptoGrAphic (SAGA) mission is aimed at enabling sovereign, spacebased quantum key distribution (QKD) services for Europe’s governments and critical infrastructure.
Developed in close partnership with the European Commission via the broader European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative, SAGA is set to form the space segment of Europe’s quantum communication backbone.
In an era of growing digital and cyber threats, Europe’s reliance on secure communication has come under increased scrutiny. SAGA addresses this need by leveraging quantum mechanics to enable cryptographic keys, to shut down any attempt at observation or tampering of sensitive government and institutional data. By enabling secure transmission of encryption keys over long distances, SAGA will contribute to the resilience of Europe’s digital infrastructure.
The importance of SAGA
SAGA’s architecture
With a strong industrial ecosystem led by Thales Alenia Space and a clearly defined roadmap, SAGA sits at the intersection of technology, security and European strategic autonomy. As the mission progresses through its design and development phases, it will also serve as a foundation for future quantum networks, potentially enabling a global quantum internet anchored in European space capabilities.
To establish a hybrid cryptographic framework, merging quantum-based key distribution with high-grade classical security, SAGA will feature the following components in its architecture.
Components
The phases of SAGA
SAGA’s initial phase has taken place, where it focused on system design and architecture definition, where mission objectives, requirements, and interface control documents are established, outlining how the space and ground segments will interact securely.
Currently SAGA is under the development and integration phase, where the quantum key distribution (QKD) payload, secure communication modules, and key management systems, as well as the construction and validation of optical ground stations will be created. The verification and validation phase tests end-to-end performance, ensuring the quantum key exchange, encryption mechanisms, and authentication systems meet strict security and operational standards under real-world conditions.
Finally, the deployment and operational phase transitions SAGA into service, where the satellite will perform routine secure key distribution to European ground stations, in support of EuroQCI. The phased approach will ensure that SAGA evolves from a conceptual quantum communication demonstrator to a fully operational system, reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy and data security in space-based communications.
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CONTACT
Michael Witting
ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
Keplerlaan 1
2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
+31 625158619
Michael.Witting@esa.int
