Every day, satellites quietly support countless activities on Earth. They help aircraft navigate, synchronize financial transactions, enable communication networks and provide data used in emergency response. Because these services have become so deeply embedded in everyday life, it is easy to forget how much depends on a safe and reliable space environment.
This challenge lies at the heart of QUADROCS – QUAntum Defense Radio-Optical Communication System, a research project led by Prof. Piotr Kolenderski. The project brings together expertise in astronomy, quantum technologies, optical and radio communication, computer science and data processing to strengthen the security and resilience of future communication systems.
The starting point is Space Situational Awareness (SSA)—the continuous monitoring of the near-Earth environment. This includes tracking active satellites, space debris, space weather and near-Earth asteroids to support safe and sustainable space operations. Within this broader framework, Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) focuses specifically on detecting objects in orbit, predicting their trajectories and helping prevent collisions or uncontrolled re-entries. According to the project proposal, these capabilities have become a strategic priority for Europe, supporting both space safety and long-term technological independence.
Reliable monitoring depends not only on observations but also on data. Space surveillance generates enormous amounts of information that must be processed quickly and accurately. The proposal therefore highlights the need for specialised algorithms, machine-learning-based prediction tools and scalable data-processing pipelines capable of handling large, heterogeneous datasets while reducing processing time and improving the reliability of predictions.
Monitoring space is only one part of the picture. The project also addresses the challenge of transmitting information securely. Optical ground stations used for SSA and SST are often located in remote areas, requiring rapid and highly secure communication. QUADROCS therefore combines optical communication, radio technologies and quantum communication protocols into a single research framework. Optical communication enables high data rates, while radio systems remain essential for reliable transmission under demanding conditions. Quantum key distribution is proposed as an additional layer of security for future communication networks. Together, these complementary technologies are intended to contribute to resilient global communication systems.
The project also builds on expertise developed within the Toruń Radio Astronomy Group. Continuous monitoring of the radio spectrum allows researchers to identify and characterise sources of radio-frequency interference that can affect astronomical observations. The proposal extends this experience to monitoring interference with GPS signals, recognising that such disruptions may influence transport, communication, financial services and military operations. Better understanding the sources of interference is expected to support the development of effective countermeasures.
The project is guided by one broad strategic vision. It argues that recent challenges in long-distance communication have highlighted the importance of technological sovereignty. By combining satellite monitoring, secure communication, quantum technologies and advanced data processing, QUADROCS aims to integrate capabilities that already exist at Nicolaus Copernicus University into a coherent research ecosystem. This interdisciplinary approach is intended to strengthen the University’s participation in European initiatives while supporting the development and future commercialisation of technologies relevant to national security and critical infrastructure.
Ultimately, QUADROCS is built around a simple but increasingly important idea: in a world that relies on space-based technologies every day, protecting communication and maintaining awareness of what happens in orbit are no longer separate scientific challenges. They are closely connected elements of the infrastructure on which modern society depends.
