The SPEQTRE optical delivery system

The Secure Photon Entangled Quantum communication Technology Readiness Experiment (SPEQTRE) project is a technology demonstration mission aiming to show entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) from a nanosatellite platform. The satellite will be a 12U CubeSat, measuring 20 x 20 x 30 cm. It is being developed in collaboration with SpeQtral, a Singaporean company who are providing the quantum source and receiver, and ISISpace, a company based in the Netherlands who are providing the satellite platform and its control systems. The project involves the design, build, test, launch and operation of a satellite payload as well as the development and operation of associated ground station facilities. RAL Space are developing multiple new systems for this mission, including an off-axis telescope for the satellite, a control system to stabilise the optical pointing and an optical ground station at Chilbolton to receive the entangled photons. This paper discussed the optical delivery system which has been designed to transmit an optical signal from LEO to an optical ground station.