The photo was taken in an unoccupied space-facing port on the International Space Station’s Harmony module, where the SpaceX Dragon Freedom vehicle will be relocated hours later after undocking from Harmony’s forward port.
NASA Johnson Space Center
In the race to conquer the universe, space exploration’s greatest challenge may be the vast unknown, but distance from Earth isn’t stopping cybercriminals from using invisible hands to sabotage missions from thousands of miles below.
Spacecraft, satellites, and space-based systems all face Cyber security threats They are becoming increasingly complex and dangerous. As connected technologies control everything from navigation to anti-ballistic missiles, security breaches can have catastrophic consequences.
“Operating in space presents unique limitations, with no physical access to the spacecraft after launch for repairs or updates,” said William Russell, Director of Contracts and National Security Procurement at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. “The consequences of malicious cyber activity include mission Loss of data, reduction in the life or capabilities of a space system or constellation, or control of a space vehicle.”
critical space infrastructure vulnerable to threats Spanning three key segments: space, the ground segment, and the communications links between the two. Wayne Lonstein, co-founder and CEO of VFT Solutions and co-author of “Networked Human Systems, Space Technology and Threats,” said one of these breakthroughs could be a cascade of consequences for everyone of failure. “There are many ways in which threats to critical infrastructure on Earth can contribute to vulnerabilities in space,” Ronstein said. “Cybers, electricity, spoofing, and many other vectors that can wreak havoc in space,” he added .
Artificial Intelligence Risks in Mission-Critical Systems
Integrating artificial intelligence into space projects increased risk Sophisticated cyberattacks orchestrated by state actors and individual hackers. Incorporating artificial intelligence into space exploration could allow more decisions to be made with less human oversight.
For example, NASA is using artificial intelligence to locate scientific samples for planetary rovers. However, Sylvester Kaczmarek, chief technology officer at OrbiSky Systems, said reduced human oversight could make these missions more vulnerable to unexplained and potentially catastrophic cyberattacks. Works on the integration of artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity and edge computing in aerospace applications.
Kaczmarek said data poisoning, where an attacker feeds an AI model corrupted data, is one example of what can go wrong. Another threat is model inversion, where an adversary reverse-engineers an artificial intelligence model to extract sensitive information, which could compromise mission integrity, he said. If compromised, AI systems could be used to interfere with or control strategically important national space missions.
“AI systems may be vulnerable to unique types of cyberattacks, such as adversarial attacks, in which malicious inputs are designed to trick the AI into making incorrect decisions or predictions,” Langstein said, adding that AI can also enable adversaries to “Conducting complex espionage or sabotage operations against space systems may change mission parameters or steal sensitive information.”
The Quetzal-1 CubeSat was deployed to the International Space Station from the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployment.
NASA Johnson Space Center
Even worse, AI can be weaponized—used to develop advanced space-based weapons or counter-space technologies that can disrupt or destroy satellites and other space assets.
The U.S. government is strengthening the integrity and security of artificial intelligence systems in space. 2023 Cyberspace Solarium Committee Report Stresses the importance of designating outer space as a critical infrastructure sector and urges strengthening of cybersecurity agreements for satellite operators.
Lonstein recommends rigorous testing of AI systems under simulated space conditions before deployment and using redundancy to prevent accidental breaches. “Implement redundant systems to ensure that if one AI component fails, others can take over, maintaining mission integrity and functionality,” he said.
Using strict access control, authentication, and error correction mechanisms can further ensure that AI systems operate with accurate information. Even if these defenses are breached, Longstein said, reactive measures can be taken by designing AI systems with fail-safe mechanisms that can revert to a “safe state” or “default mode” in the event of a malfunction or unexpected behavior. Manual override is also important. “Ensuring ground control can manually override or intervene in AI decisions when necessary provides an additional layer of safety,” he added.
Competition between China and the United States
Competition between China and the United States includes a new battlefield in 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 issue.
“Competition between the United States and China, along with Russia as a secondary player, increases the risk of cyberattacks as these countries seek to gain technological advantage,” Kaczmarek said.
Although they receive less attention in mainstream media than consumer, cryptocurrency, and even nation-state hacks targeting critical U.S. private and government infrastructure, noteworthy cyberattacks have targeted critical space-based technology in recent years. As the United States, China, Russia and India intensify their battle for space dominance, the stakes have never been higher.
Cyber attacks occur frequently This year at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). In 2022, there will be SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system was hackedAfter the satellite was supplied to Ukraine, Musk blamed it on Russia. August 2023, US government issues warning Russian and Chinese spies Designed to steal sensitive technology and data from U.S. aerospace companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. As early as a decade ago, China was involved in many cyber espionage activities, such as 2014 NOAA violation weather systems, jeopardizing space-based environmental monitoring.
“Countries such as China and Russia target U.S. space assets to disrupt operations or steal intellectual property, which can result in mission impairment and loss of technological advantage,” Kaczmarek said.
Space-based systems increasingly support critical infrastructure on Earth, and any cyberattack on these systems could harm national security and economic interests. Last year, the U.S. government Let hackers break into government satellites As a way to test for vulnerabilities that the Chinese could exploit. At the same time, concerns are growing at the highest levels of government that China is trying to “deny, exploit or hijack” Enemy Satellite – In 2023 it was revealed that U.S. Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira had leaked classified documents.
“The ongoing space race and related technologies will continue to be impacted by cyberattacks like Viasat,” GAO’s Russell said, referring to a 2022 cyberattack on the satellite company. US and UK intelligence services blame Russia as part of the war against Ukraine.
Sky-based cloud for big tech companies
Private companies and governments will need to use all available cybersecurity tools, including encryption, intrusion detection systems, and work with government agencies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to share intelligence and coordinate defenses.
“These collaborations may also involve the development of cybersecurity frameworks specifically for space systems,” Kaczmarek said.
Meanwhile, Silicon Valley-based technology companies have been making rapid advances in cybersecurity, including those aimed at protecting space technology. company likes Microsoft, Amazon, Googleand NVIDIA Increasingly recruited by the U.S. Space Force and Department of Defense for their specialized resources and advanced cyber capabilities.
Notably, Microsoft is one of the founding members of the organization. Spatial Information Sharing and Analysis Center Has been an active participant since its inception a few years ago. “Microsoft has partnered with the U.S. Space Force to support its development As a fully digital servicebringing the latest technology to ensure Space Force Guardians are prepared for space-based conflicts,” a Microsoft spokesperson said via email.
as Contract worth $19.8 millionMicrosoft provides its Azure cloud computing infrastructure, simulation, augmented reality and data management tools to support and protect various Space Force missions. “Microsoft plays a critical role in defending against cyber threats in space,” the spokesperson wrote.
Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services and defense contractors General Dynamics It also provides cloud infrastructure for storing and processing the vast amounts of data generated by satellites and space missions.
NVIDIAPowerful GPUs can be used to process and analyze satellite images and data. Ronstein said the chipmaker’s artificial intelligence chips can enhance image processing, anomaly detection and predictive analytics for space missions. But reliance on technology in space operations has limits as a safety benefit rather than an increase in risk.
“High reliance on automated systems can lead to catastrophic failures if these systems malfunction or encounter unexpected conditions,” Ronstein said.
A single point of failure can jeopardize the entire mission. Additionally, widespread use of technology may compromise the skills and knowledge of human operators, which may atrophy if not exercised regularly.
“This can create challenges for manual operation during emergencies or system failures,” Langstein added.
