Startup Develops 'First-of-Its-Kind' Quantum Camera for Space and Earth Surveillance

DARPA has backed startup Diffraqtion to develop a ‘first-of-its-kind’ quantum camera capable of providing near-real time imagery at up to 20 times current optical surveillance cameras. The two-year, $1.5 million grant will support on-sky demonstrations of the camera on ground-based telescopes and satellites. Following successful demonstrations, Diffraqtion plans to launch its first space domain awareness satellite in 2028 and a second satellite for Earth observation in 2029.