Cyber Threats in Space
Outer space has been a security priority since the 1950s and the military has relied on satellite battlefield communications for many generations. In fact, much of the United States’ critical infrastructure depends on space systems. In 1967, the outer space treaty established a framework for international space laws. The treaty states that space is free to all states of exploration and peaceful purpose. However, the treaty does not prohibit launching ballistic missiles that can potentially have anti-satellite weapon capability. Many government programs gathered private-sector adaptation of dual-use technologies to help with satellite communication services. In 2002, The United States General Accounting Office concluded that efforts on critical infrastructure protection should include the satellite industry. Much like infrastructure, cybersecurity discussions also often overlooked space activities’ vulnerability. However, in April 2019, the National Security Council announced the formation of Space ISAC. Space ISAC is a nonprofit organization that will help companies flying satellites work with agencies to analyze satellites as well as ground networks that are looking for cyber threats, share information and respond if attacked.
Satellites have a unique cyber security challenge since their operations are led by technologies housed on earth. Any intensive damages inflicted in the satellite sector can lead to heavy financial losses and compromised data. Mobile device networks, GPS, and a plethora of other IoT devices regularly rely on satellites to keep their operations ongoing. The military is one of the many organizations the rely heavily on commercial satellites for sending data and receiving information. Satellites face many security risks from physical destruction to interference with the satellite’s ability to send and/or receive data. The most significant weakness is the use of long-range telemetry for communication with ground stations. Any intensive damages inflicted in the satellite sector can lead to heavy financial losses and compromised data. Satellites can also experience threats from cyber-attacks. These attacks include data theft, sending or corrupting data, and shutting down all the satellite’s operations. It is extremely difficult to detect or pinpoint cyber-attacks. Weaponization, space debris, and the overcrowding of orbits are three major concerns that threaten the security of space.
Malicious attacks on satellites are not sudden. Hackers typically observe these satellites over time and investigate network security before an actual attack. One solution for cyber security in space is predictive analytics. Predictive analytics are patterns of behavior of potential hackers compared to the patterns of behavior of authorized users who communicate with satellites and whose day-to-day operations are monitored. Software can then predict the presence of a hacker based on the subtle differences. One form of predictive analytics that companies have utilized is Honeypots. Honeypots are servers that are laced with spyware. Experts can create a type of fingerprint and develop defenses by tracking the hacker’s behavior and learning their tactics. Another solution is making satellite operators encrypt communications. Many satellite operators have already adopted this idea to prevent anyone from hijacking spacecrafts and intercepting communications. However, because there is no federal requirement, many micro satellite operators choose not to encrypt due to its costly expense and the fact that it can slow down communications traffic.
The first military plane took flight in 1909, demonstrated by Orville Wright to the United States Army. Through detailed research, excellent engineering and development, their ground-breaking innovative invention helped set the precedent for changes in the rest of the century in war fighting, weapons, drones and so on.
Following World War I and before World War II, a man named Charles Lindbergh did a solo flight from New York to Paris, which increase public enthusiasm and interest for flying and airplanes drastically. Not far after the rise of the first “modern” airplane, which was produced by the then, Boeing Airplane Company. The aircraft industry expanded to helicopters. After the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, the US military transitioned to jet fighters. Then came guided missiles that were developed and produced on our own soil. Now with time tradition aircraft companies were adapting to the new technological challenges and competition. By 1960 16 of the companies that’s were traditionally air craft manufacturers, 8 were dominating missile technology in the U.S.
Now we are in the space age, where the development of mid-range and intercontinental missiles allowed for the development of rockets which could boost small payloads into orbit. The US-Russia space race persisted into manned spaceflight, space vehicles & space stations. Most of these companies that exist today got their start in the world wars. The big 5 aerospace companies consist of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and finally General Dynamics.
The space industry is at an amazing crossroads right now. With new threats and an everchanging space domain, new solutions are also being created every day. For example, The Aerospace Corporation, a federally funded research and development center solely for the space enterprise, conducted a project where they developed a suite of cyber defense capabilities for cloud-based computing environments using commercial and custom components. They led cyber exercises involving in orbit, satellite, where these tools successfully detected state of health anomalies through radio frequencies, command sequence anomalies simulated through attempts to take control of a satellite by hacking, malware with unknown signatures simulated through firewall data affected by such malware, and abnormal data trends simulated through time series data, in which all values are with normal bounds but the sequence in time become abnormal.
The future of the space industry however seems to be falling into private hands. After 60 years of building what is space, NASA is being joined by the new kids on the block. The government has needs that the private sector full of companies like Virgin Galactic or SpaceX can fulfill, and this allows the government to subsidize the research and development. By giving money to companies like SpaceX, Boeing and others to develop small sats, or human space craft we are helping them create product in the future in which other private customers or people are willing to pay in order to gain access to.
This relationship however, is constant, and happens over and over. A lot of people feel that the relationship is parasitic and will end the other, but its not. The relationship is symbiotic, where both industries equally rely on the other in order to accomplish things.
