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Startup Diffraqtion, funded by NASA and DARPA, plans to test a quantum camera in orbit that could significantly reduce satellite imaging costs and enhance capabilities for smaller NATO allies. Traditional satellite imaging is expensive, averaging $50 million per launch, due to heavy optical components.

The quantum camera, roughly the size of a small suitcase and costing about half a million dollars to launch, aims to collect images without the bulky equipment. This technology could improve missile defense capabilities, allowing for broader area coverage and simultaneous targeting.

The method, developed by Diffraqtion's team, utilizes AI to model light behaviors instead of capturing them directly, retaining photonic information through quantum transformations. If successful, this could revolutionize space-based imaging before 2030.