Earlier this year when IonQ announced a deal to acquire EO satellite company Capella Space, it raised curiosity. Why would a quantum company acquire a satellite data provider? 

Rachel Jewett spoke with both IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi and Capella Space CEO Frank Backes about what the acquisition means and their vision to expand quantum networking to space. Q-Day, when quantum computers can crack classical encryption, is coming sooner than people expect, de Masi cautioned. 

We are quickly approaching CyberSat this fall in Reston, Virginia, with the conference kicking off on Nov. 17. If you’re planning to attend, Early Bird rates are active through Midnight on Saturday, August 23.

If you find this valuable, share it with colleagues who care about securing space. Got feedback or story ideas? I’d love to hear from you.
📩 mholmes@accessintel.com
— Mark Holmes, Program Chair, CyberSat

As cyber threats grow more complex, CyberSat 2025 brings together 20+ confirmed government and military speakers – signaling where agencies see operational gaps, evolving mission needs, and opportunities for industry to step in. The Business, Policy, Partnerships track tackles alignment across acquisition and strategy. In contrast, the Technology, Threats, Solutions track equips cyber professionals with the tools and intelligence to meet today’s threats and support tomorrow’s missions.