Although Chinese scientists said there is still a long way to go before any ultrapowerful machine can be developed, progress has been made in terms of quantum memory technology, which is a key component to quantum computing and quantum communication.

On Tuesday, China launched the world's first quantum experimental satellite in an attempt to build a space-based quantum communication network.

Zhou Zongquan, a scientist in the field, told China Daily that following the breakthrough in 2011 when scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China developed the world's first quantum memory of 1 quantum bit, or qubit, they have now developed a memory of 100 qubits.