The vastness of the unknown may be the biggest obstacle to space exploration in the drive to conquer the cosmos, but the invisible hands of cybercriminals planning to sabotage missions from thousands of miles below aren’t deterred by the distance from Earth.
Cybersecurity risks are becoming more complex and hazardous for satellites, spacecraft, and space-based systems. A security breach might have disastrous effects because everything from navigation to anti-ballistic weapons is controlled by interconnected systems.
William Russell, the director of contracting and national security acquisitions at the U.S. Government Accountability Office said
“There are unique constraints to operating in space where you do not have physical access to spacecraft for repairs or updates after launch,”
“The consequences of malicious cyber activities include loss of mission data, decreased lifespan or capability of space systems or constellations, or the control of space vehicles.”
Three main areas of critical space infrastructure are vulnerable to threats: space, the ground segment, and the communication channels connecting the two. According to Wayne Lonstein, co-founder and CEO of VFT Solutions and co-author of Cyber-Human Systems, Space Technologies, and Threats, a breach in one might lead to a cascade of failures for everyone.
Lonstein also added “In many ways, the threats to critical infrastructure on Earth can cause vulnerabilities in space,”
“Internet, power, spoofing and so many other vectors that can cause havoc in space,”
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