Sherbrooke, Quebec based SBQuantum is finding continued interest in its quantum diamond magnetometers sensors with another contract contract from the European Space Agency (ESA).
The $1.3 million (€800,000) contract is funded through ESA’s FutureEO program for which SBQuantum will provide a prototype quantum magnetometer sensor “optimized for Earth Observation (EO) missions in space.”
In August of last year, SBQuantum had provided ESA with the design of a magnetometer designed for Earth Observation. At the time Aaron Strangfeld, Quantum & Emerging Sensing Technologies Enginee at ESA said, “The technology is promising, and we are optimistic that its advantages can be realized in space as well.” Strangfeld now says that, “Our earlier research shows that diamond magnetometers may meet the performance needed for Earth observation. Now we need to prove that building such an instrument is possible.”
With that, ESA will have SBQuantum go ahead with building a prototype to test. SBQuantum said, “The upgraded version of the device will remain the same size and weight while delivering a number of enhanced capabilities including improved sensitivity (sub 100 Picotesla), higher bandwidth (400 Hz) and greater accuracy (200 Picotesla) as required by ESA for advanced EO missions.”
SBQuantum has also received support from the Canadian Space Agency through the Space Technology Development Program. And this award is made possible through Canada’s continued participation as a cooperating state with ESA. Canada renewed its cooperation agreement with ESA in 2019 through 2030. Canada is the only non-European cooperating state.
“Securing this second contract with ESA is the latest in a series of strong signals from the market indicating the vast potential our quantum magnetometers offer as a sensor deployed in space. The Earth and its ecosystem are evolving, and humankind needs to better monitor changes in ocean currents and temperatures, among many other transformations, so we can fully understand them, prepare and adapt,” said David Roy-Guay, CEO and Founder at SBQuantum. “A byproduct of demonstrating space readiness is that this doubles as a strong validation of terrestrial readiness for our hardware. By combining this highly accurate sensor with advanced interpretation algorithms, our Magnetic Intelligence product will also unlock novel security applications for an increasingly uncertain world. Our mission is to remain at the cutting edge of applied quantum sensing.”