The world's first micro-nano quantum satellite was launched atop a Lijian-1 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China on July 27.

The primary developers of the satellite include Hefei National Laboratory, the University of Science and Technology of China, the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of CAS, and the Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology.

The satellite was designed to conduct real-time quantum key distribution experiments between the micro-nano satellite and ground station and to help realize a low-cost, efficient, practical and global quantum communication network.

It is the second quantum communication satellite launched by China after the launch of the world's first quantum communications satellite "Micius" in 2016.

The new quantum satellite's launch and in-orbit operations are expected to aid the country's quantum communication development and promote the improvement of national information security.