Micius is China's first self-developed space-based quantum science experimental satellite; it was launched in 2016.

The project was led by the National Space Science Center, with the satellite system developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites and the payload subsystem developed by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics and the University of Science and Technology of China.

In addition, the University of Science and Technology of China was responsible for proposing the scientific goals and developing the scientific application systems.

The tasks include the satellite–ground high-speed quantum key distribution experiment and the large-scale quantum key distribution network experiment. Breakthroughs have been made in the practical application of space-based quantum communications.

The technology not only enables China to provide direct high-security quantum communications for areas without a fiber-optic network, but also provides reliable technological support for the construction of a future globally integrated space-to-ground quantum communication network.