China successfully launched the first-ever experimental satellite for quantum communications last night, South China Morning Post reported.

At 1.40am, the satellite named Micius after an ancient Chinese philosopher was launched into orbit on top of a Long March 2D rocket launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Inner Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.

According to the newspaper, one of the main tasks of the mission is to carry out a hack-proof quantum communication line between China and Europe.