The vacant space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module was photographed hours before SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom spacecraft was repositioned there after undocking from Harmony’s forward port. .
NASA Johnson Space Center
In the race to conquer space, space exploration’s greatest challenge may be the vastness of the unknown, but even at such a distance from Earth, cybercriminals seek to sabotage missions from thousands of miles underground. The invisible hand is not something to be deterred from.
Spacecraft, satellites, and space-based systems are all facing this. cyber security threats It is becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous. With interconnected technologies controlling everything from navigation to ballistic missile interception, security breaches can have devastating consequences.
“There are unique limitations to operating in space, where you cannot physically access the spacecraft for post-launch repairs or updates,” said William Russell, director of contracts and national security acquisitions at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. speaks. “Impacts of malicious cyber activity include loss of mission data, reduction in the lifespan and capabilities of space systems and constellations, and loss of control of spacecraft.”
critical space infrastructure vulnerable to threats It spans three major segments: in space, the ground segment, and the communications link between the two. Wayne Lonstein, co-founder and CEO of VFT Solutions and co-author of Cyber-Human Systems, Space Technologies, and Threats, says one failure can cascade to all failures. states. “In many ways, threats to critical infrastructure on Earth can also create vulnerabilities in space,” Lonstein said. “The Internet, power, identity theft, and many other vectors can wreak havoc in the universe,” he added.
AI risks in mission-critical systems
With the integration of artificial intelligence into space projects, increased the risk Sophisticated cyberattacks orchestrated by state actors and individual hackers. Integrating AI into space exploration will enable more decision-making with less human oversight.
for example, NASA uses AI to target scientific specimens For planetary probes. However, with reduced human oversight, these missions could become more susceptible to unexplained and potentially disastrous cyber attacks, says the integration of AI, robotics, cybersecurity and edge computing in aerospace applications. said Sylvester Kaczmarek, chief technology officer of OrbiSky Systems, which specializes in
Kaczmarek said data poisoning, where an attacker supplies corrupted data to an AI model, is one example of where a problem can arise. Another threat, he said, is model inversion, where an attacker could reverse engineer an AI model to extract sensitive information and compromise mission integrity. If AI systems are compromised, they could be used to sabotage or take control of strategically important national space missions.
“AI systems can be susceptible to unique types of cyberattacks, including adversarial attacks in which malicious inputs are designed to cause the AI to make incorrect decisions or predictions,” Lonstein said. said. He added that AI could allow adversaries to perform “sophisticated espionage and sabotage against space systems, potentially altering mission parameters and stealing sensitive information.”
The Quetzal-1 CubeSat is seen being deployed from the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer on the International Space Station.
NASA Johnson Space Center
Worse still, AI could be weaponized and used to develop advanced space weapons and counter-space technology. jamming or destroying satellites and other space assets.
The U.S. government is strengthening the integrity and security of AI systems in space. 2023 Cyberspace Sunroom Committee report He emphasized the importance of designating space as a critical infrastructure sector and called for stronger cybersecurity protocols for satellite operators.
Lonstein recommends rigorously testing AI systems in simulated space conditions before deployment and ensuring redundancy as a way to prevent unexpected breaches. “We will implement redundant systems so that if one AI component fails, other AI components can take over and maintain mission integrity and functionality,” he said.
Using strict access controls, authentication, and error correction mechanisms can further ensure that AI systems operate with accurate information. Lonstein believes that even these defenses can be breached through the design of AI systems with fail-safe mechanisms that can return to a “safe state” or “default mode” in the event of malfunction or unexpected behavior. He stated that there are follow-up measures in place should this occur. . Manual overrides are also important. “It provides an additional layer of safety by allowing ground control to manually override or intervene in AI decision-making if necessary,” he added.
US-China competition
The conflict between the United States and China includes a new battlefield: space. As both countries increase their space ambitions and military capabilities beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the threat of cyberattacks targeting critical orbital assets has become an increasingly pressing concern.
“As the United States and China seek to gain technological superiority, Russia is taking on a supporting role, and competition between the two countries is increasing the risk of cyberattacks,” Kaczmarek said.
While not receiving as much attention in the mainstream press as consumer, cryptocurrency, and even nation-state hacks of key U.S. civilian and government infrastructure on the ground, notable cyberattacks have targeted critical space-based technologies in recent years. are. The stakes are higher than ever as the United States, China, Russia, and India increase their efforts to dominate space.
repeated cyber attacks This year’s announcement was made by the Japanese space agency JAXA. In 2022, Hacking into SpaceX’s Starlink satellite systemElon Musk blamed Russia after satellites were supplied to Ukraine. In August 2023, the US government issued a warning There were Russian and Chinese spies. Aims to steal sensitive technology It also includes data from US space companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. China has been involved in numerous cyber espionage operations dating back a decade. 2014 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Violations Weather systems put space-based environmental monitoring at risk.
“Countries such as China and Russia are targeting U.S. space assets to disrupt operations and steal intellectual property, potentially leading to mission compromise and loss of technological advantage. “There is,” Kaczmarek said.
Space-based systems increasingly support critical infrastructure on Earth, and cyberattacks against these systems can undermine national security and economic interests. Last year, the US government Let a hacker break into a government satellite as a way to test for vulnerabilities that the Chinese might exploit. This comes amid growing concern at the highest levels of government that China is trying to do so. “Reject, Exploit, Takeover” Enemy Satellites — A fact that became public in 2023 with the leak of classified documents by Jack Teixeira of the U.S. Air National Guard.
“The ongoing space race and related technologies will continue to be affected by cyberattacks like the one against ViaSat,” GAO’s Russell said, referring to the 2022 cyberattack on a satellite company. . U.S. and British intelligence agencies blame Russia for the crime As part of the war against Ukraine.
Big Tech’s Space-Based Cloud
Private companies and governments must use all cybersecurity tools at their disposal, including encryption, intrusion detection systems, and collaboration with government agencies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency for intelligence sharing and coordinated defense. There is.
“These cooperations could also include the development of cybersecurity frameworks specific to space systems,” Kaczmarek said.
At the same time, Silicon Valley-based technology companies are making rapid advances in the field of cybersecurity, including those designed to ensure the safety of space technology. companies like microsoft, Amazon, googleand Nvidia Increasing participation from the U.S. Space Force and the Department of Defense is seeking specialized resources and advanced cyber capabilities.
Notably, Microsoft Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center I have been actively participating in the organization since its establishment a few years ago. “Microsoft partners with the U.S. Space Force to support its growth As a fully digital servicebrings the latest technology to ensure Space Force Guardians are prepared for space-based conflicts,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in an email.
As part of the $19.8 million contractMicrosoft provides Azure cloud computing infrastructure, simulation, augmented reality, and data management tools to support and protect a wide range of Space Force missions. “Microsoft plays a critical role in defending against cyber threats in space,” the spokesperson wrote.
Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Defense Contractor general dynamics It also provides cloud infrastructure for storing and processing the vast amounts of data generated by satellites and space missions.
Nvidia‘s powerful GPU can be used to process and analyze satellite images and data. Lonstein said the company’s AI chips can enhance image processing, anomaly detection and predictive analytics for space missions. However, there are limits to relying on technology in space operations for safety benefits rather than adding risks.
“High reliance on automated systems can lead to catastrophic failures if the systems malfunction or encounter unexpected scenarios,” Lonstein said.
A single point of failure can jeopardize the entire mission. Furthermore, widespread use of technology can have a negative impact on the skills and knowledge of human operators, which can atrophy if not regularly trained.
“This can make manual operation difficult in emergencies or system failures,” Lonstein added.
