SES and Airbus to Set Up Ground Station for Eagle-1 Quantum Project in Noordwijk
On July 15, 2026, SES and Airbus Netherlands signed a land lease agreement with the Dutch municipality of Noordwijk. This agreement authorizes the installation of a terrestrial optical station for the EAGLE-1 project, a quantum key exchange satellite.
A Lease Agreement with the Municipality of Noordwijk
SES, in partnership with Airbus Netherlands B.V., has signed a land lease contract with the municipality of Noordwijk. The chosen site is the NL Space Campus, located alongside the European Space Agency's ESTeC technical center. This ground optical station will serve as the main connection point for the EAGLE-1 system, managed by SES in a public-private partnership with the ESA and the European Commission.
Infrastructure Equipped with Ultra-Precise Telescope and Advanced Optics
The station, to be constructed by Airbus for SES, will include a control room and a dome housing an ultra-precise telescope capable of tracking satellites. The equipment will feature advanced optics designed to correct atmospheric distortions in real time, such as turbulence or temperature fluctuations, which are crucial for the accuracy of the laser link.
EAGLE-1, Europe's First Quantum Key Distribution Satellite
EAGLE-1 will mark the first European demonstration of ultra-secure end-to-end communication based on quantum technology. Unlike traditional satellites that use radio frequencies, the EAGLE-1 satellite link will utilize laser beams to transmit security keys. The project, led by TNO as the main contractor, will rely on the expertise of specialized partners, including FSO Instruments for the sensor, Airbus Netherlands for the real-time control system, Officina Stellare for the telescope and dome, and Celestia STS for the digital optical modem.
