Protecting ‘Space’ from ‘Cyber’

A Case for Cybersecurity in Space Systems

Abstract

Contemporary security literature heavily revolves around the need to protect 'critical infrastructure.' The US Department of Homeland Security has identified 16 areas comprising critical infrastructure. These areas include Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communication, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defence Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Systems, Food and Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors, Materials and Waste, Transportation Systems, and Water Systems. However, the crucial sectors among these rely on space systems for their functioning. Space systems comprise assets that are present in outer space, suborbital, or ground control systems. Sectors such as transportation rely on global positioning system (GPS) satellites, while the defence sector relies on intelligence satellites. While there have been significant debates on protecting this critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, relatively less attention has been given to the emerging domain of cyberattacks in space.