QCrypt: Advanced Quantum-based Image Encryption for Secure Satellite Data Transmission

With the advancements in satellite communication, there arises a demand for the secure transmission of satellite and remote sensing images to the ground monitoring stations which has significant challenges due to the increased threat of cyber-attacks and the sensitive nature of those images. Existing classical cryptography methods fail to meet the advanced security demands. Thus, there arises a need for advanced cryptography techniques which ensure secure transmission of data in satellite communication. Recent advancements in quantum computing and research have shown that leveraging quantum mechanics and principles enhances security. We propose a novel quantum-based image encryption technique for securing satellite and remote sensing images during transmission named QCrypt. QCrypt utilizes the power of quantum chaotic maps, classic chaotic maps, and DNA encoding techniques to ensure the security of the images. QCrypt has been tested using a remote sensing image dataset and achieved increased performance in terms of resistance to histogram analysis, differential attacks, and chosen- plaintext attacks compared to traditional encryption methods. Our approach addresses the critical need for secure satellite data transmission and the use of quantum-based encryption to meet security demands.