Systems and methods for bridging gaps in cryptographic secret distribution using line-of-sight-secured networks

A method, comprising:

• an end-user electronic device receiving a cryptographic secret from a vault when the end-user electronic device is in close proximity to the vault and using the cryptographic secret to communicate to a first webserver;
• a first data center providing the cryptographic secret to a second data center over a secure communication channel,
• the second data center comprising a space-based vehicle transceiver communicating the cryptographic secret to a first space-based vehicle over a first line-of-sight communication channel, wherein the first data center and the second data center distill the cryptographic secret using a quantum key distribution protocol, and the cryptographic secret comprises a quantum key,
• the first space-based vehicle receiving the cryptographic secret from the space-based vehicle transceiver over a second line-of-sight communication channel, the first space-based vehicle communicating the cryptographic secret to one of a series of space-based vehicles over a second line-of-sight communication channel and along the series of space-based vehicles until one space-based vehicle of the series of space-based vehicles is identified that has a line-of-sight with the third data center,
• the identified space-based vehicle of the series of space-based vehicle communicating the cryptographic secret to a third data center over a second line-of-sight communication channel,
• the third data center is configured to encrypt data with the cryptographic secret, wherein the third data center communicates the encrypted data to the second physical data center using asymmetric encryption including different but mathematically-related keys that are used to encrypt and decrypt;
• wherein the first data center receives the encrypted data from the third data center over a communication network;
• and
• wherein the first data center decrypts the encrypted data using the cryptographic secret.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon, which when read and executed by one or more computer processors at a first data center, cause the one or more computer processors to perform steps comprising:

• receiving a cryptographic secret from an end-user electronic device that acquires the cryptographic secret from a vault when the end-user electronic device is in close proximity to the vault;
• providing the cryptographic secret to a second data center over a secure communication channel, wherein the second data center comprises a space-based vehicle transceiver and is configured to communicate the cryptographic secret to a first space-based vehicle over a first line-of-sight communication channel, wherein the first data center and the second data center distill the cryptographic secret using a quantum key distribution protocol, and the cryptographic secret comprises a quantum key, wherein the first space-based vehicle is configured to receive the cryptographic secret from the space-based vehicle over a second line-of-sight communication channel and communicate the cryptographic secret to a third data center over a second line-of-sight communication channel, wherein the third data center is configured to encrypt data with the cryptographic secret, the first space-based vehicle communicating the cryptographic secret to one of a series of space-based vehicle over a second line-of-sight communication channel and along the series of space-based vehicles until one space-based vehicle of the series of space-based vehicles is identified that has a line-of-sight with the third data center, wherein the third data center communicates the encrypted data to the second physical data center using asymmetric encryption including different but mathematically-related keys that are used to encrypt and decrypt;
• receiving the encrypted data from the third data center over a communication network;
• and
• decrypting the encrypted data using the cryptographic secret.