Confirmed

NASA Glenn sent photons between a plane in flight and the ground over a quantum channel

NASA calls it a US first. The flight took place on October 21.

Leaked on 04 November 2026

Screenshot of @NASAglenn's X post: We’re taking quantum communications to new heights! ✈️ Late last month, @NASA researchers made history when they successfully sent tiny lig — @NASAglenn's post on X, with counts as of 09 Nov 2026 12:49 UTC. Live post on X

NASA's Glenn Research Center (@NASAglenn) said on November 4 that its researchers sent single photons between an aircraft in flight and a ground station over a quantum channel, which NASA describes as a first in the United States.

NASA's Glenn Research Center @NASAglenn

We’re taking quantum communications to new heights! ✈️ Late last month, @NASA researchers made history when they successfully sent tiny light particles, or photons, between an aircraft and a ground station over a quantum channel, the first time this has been achieved in the U.S. (1/3)

495 likes · 89 reposts · counts as of 09 Nov 2026, 12:49 UTC

— NASA's Glenn Research Center (@NASAglenn) November 4, 2026

not in our leaker index

The flight took place on October 21, and the team "successfully locked onto a quantum signal and recorded data in flight," Glenn said, according to Avi-Go. Avi-Go notes that link metrics have not been published.

NASA confirmed the test. Its practical performance is not yet known.

Sources

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