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Space & Cybersecurity Newsletter - August 2021

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Joint Warfighting Concept Failed, Until It Focused On Space And Cyber

The Pentagon’s new Joint Warfighting Concept (JWC) hinges on the importance of and interaction between space and cyber domains. The JWC is an aspirational outline of American warfighting for the next 30 years and emphasizes space and cyber, unlike its predecessors. The JWC also incorporates tools like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing.

Inspector: DoD may struggle to recruit needed cyber workers because it failed to track open jobs

According to an August 2nd watchdog report, the Department of Defense has failed to properly track available civilian cyber jobs. The report states that “With [REDACTED] percent of its filled and [REDACTED] percent of unfilled core positions not coded or coded incorrectly, the DoD may be unable to accurately determine the skill set and size of its civilian cyber workforce, which may hinder workforce planning activities, such as recruitment and retention strategies and determining the work roles of critical need.” The acting DoD Chief Information Officer seeks to complete work role coding by the end of this year.

USSF, UND sign MOU establishing University Partnership Program

At an August 9th Memorandum of Understanding signing event, The U.S. Space Force announced its University Partnership Program (UPP) “to harness the innovation at universities across our country” designed to identify, develop and retain a diverse STEM-capable workforce. The University of North Dakota is the first official UPP member with ten additional universities on track to join the partnership in fiscal year ’21: Georgia Institute of Technology, Howard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Purdue University, University of Colorado System (beginning with Boulder and Colorado Springs), University of Texas System (beginning with Austin and El Paso), and University of Southern California.

Space Force to kick off new program to attract small businesses and startups

The U.S. Space Force is launching SpaceWERX, a space-focused spinoff of the Air Force’s AFWERX, to tap into private sector investment and help bring to market nascent technologies relevant to national security. The program is expected to award up to $50 million in contracts to small businesses and startups. Additional funds will be up for award under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program where small businesses partner with nonprofit research institutions to commercialize technology. The inaugural SpaceWERX took place on August 19th, 2021.

Local cyber security experts sound off on how to stay safe online

Henry Danielson of the California Cybersecurity Institute notes that 1 in 5 people have faced the grim reality of their emails or social media accounts being hacked. Using a password manager and two-factor authentication are great ways to prevent these breaches, as ransomware attacks by hackers have increased “by 300% over the last year, resulting in more than $300 million in losses.” While good cyber hygiene is important in the workplace and in one’s personal life, there are over 55,000 cyber security career opportunities waiting to be filled in California - these cybersecurity experts are vital in keeping users and user data safe.

 

INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS

China & Russia

China’s space program has been accelerating significantly with no signs of slowing down, cementing them “as a principal player in outer space activities.” This elevates the conversation of whether or not it is in the United States’ best interest to sign a treaty with China, as it may “open a door for China to superimpose its idea of rule of law in outer space while confining the U.S. and its allies in a treaty that becomes a geopolitical and geo-legal trap.” China’s increased involvement in space, specifically their new space station, also enhances commercial competition in space, giving private companies more options in a “‘new era of space stations.’”

The partnership between Russia and China is underscored by their recent “theater level exercise,” where thousands of troops from each country trained together with the aim being to “‘consolidate and develop the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era.’” Despite this partnership, it is believed that Chinese hacker groups “‘Chinese hacker groups (TA428 and TaskMasters) attacked Russian federal executive authorities in 2020 or that there is one united Chinese hacker group made up of different units.’” Moscow officials have “deliberately downplayed” the attacks, but are becoming more aware of the fact that Chinese hacker groups have been “‘hacking the world out of them for well over a decade.’”

 Navy Adm. Charles A. Richard describes China’s developments as “‘explosive growth and modernization,’” specifically referring to their strategic nuclear capabilities in air and space. A similar threat from Russia is rising, as their cyber capabilities have proven to be a challenge for the U.S., alongside their development of hypersonic weapons and other missile systems. Air Force Gen. Glen D. Vanherck, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, expresses a similar sentiment, noting that “China is on par with Russia in offensive cyber and space domain capabilities.” The threat from China is also seen in their influence in Latin America, with the PRC’s influence via “offering extensive military education opportunities, cyber engineering scholarships,” and focusing on Latin American space assets.

Africa

Africa’s space industry has seen a recent boost in development, specifically with the partnership of GeoTerraImage and Satellogic, the “premier geospatial solutions provider” and the “leader in sub-meter resolution satellite imagery collection” respectively. A recent report shows an increase in the demand for space data in Africa, which would provide important data on “‘challenging resource allocation and food-insecurity” for the continent. Satellogic’s mission is to “democratize access to geospatial data through its information platform to help solve the world’s most pressing problems,” including climate change and energy supply on top of food security. Learn more about Africa's space industry here. 

 

MILITARY CHALLENGES & DEVELOPMENTS

Norms and Principles in Space

The DoD has begun the process of outlining space norms, as seen in the release of an unclassified statement in a July 7th memo signed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. This memo outlines the 5 “Tenets of Responsible Behavior” for the DoD’s space-faring operations: 

While providing basic guardrails, the tenets give the DoD operational flexibility - “including the possibility of testing and using weapons...to take down adversary satellites as long as any space debris created is not ‘long lived.’” This memo serves as a springboard into a larger conversation around space norms on the international stage as the UN General Assembly will unveil their report on “Reducing Space Threats Through Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behaviors” this fall. The norms and definitions to be discussed will look similar to that of air and sea and will incorporate how the commercial sector can act responsibly in the space domain.

 

Fuel Sources in Space

The Space Force has awarded Rhea Space Activity with an SBIR contract to design “a spacecraft with a solar-thermal propulsion system.” Traditional chemical propulsion is a hurdle the Space Force faces when considering cislunar space missions. Solar-thermal propelled spacecraft will use water as their main propellant, serving as a potentially viable alternative to current propulsion systems. Alongside solar-thermal systems, the Space Force is exploring nuclear thermal propulsion options to overcome a similar hurdle - deep space missions, and Mars-focused missions. The advantage to these nuclear systems compared to solar is that solar panels become less efficient the farther away from the sun a spacecraft travels, while also limiting maneuverability. Nuclear-powered spacecraft can accelerate missions “that would take months or years with conventional propulsion could be accelerated to days or weeks.” 

GPS Spoofing & Vulnerabilities

The DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit stated that they are looking for “commercial solutions that can help sniff out potential global navigation satellite system disruptions” in a recent solicitation. As more and more systems are becoming interconnected to improve data sharing GPS spoofing and jamming have become of utmost importance - a concern also shared by the Department of Transportation. 

With this threat being a cross-sector issue among defense, transportation, and cyber, the Space Force is “hardening what it calls the ‘GPS enterprise’ that includes three segments: satellites in space, the ground control system and user equipment.” The DoD is also investing $4.1B into GPS 3 technologies that broadcast military code (M-code), which “transmits at much higher power and is more jam-resistant than civilian signals.” Adding to this effort, the Air Force Research Laboratory is developing the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) that will feature a more “integrated approach” to various GPS segments, with ground systems and user equipment both being fully digital and programmable.

Dickinson: Space Command and Cyber Command ‘Inseparable’

U.S. Space Command boss Army Gen. James H. Dickinson noted that there is “‘a special synergy between U.S. Space Command and U.S. CYBERCOM,’” and that “policy must change to keep up with evolving threats in the cyber domain.” Dickinson’s sentiments emphasized that this synergy is so powerful that a space operation cannot exist without cyber, and cyber capabilities require a space component. He believes that the U.S. must have a “‘range of capabilities from destructive to reversible’” and maintain “‘digital superiority,’” mentioning Russia and China as being major adversaries on the front of cyber and space.

 

SOFTWARE, DATA & SPACE CYBERSECURITY

Cyberspace and outer space are new frontiers for national security, according to an expert report

Cyberspace and outer space are new frontiers for national security that introduce new questions about borders, sovereignty, and defense strategy. While cyber and outer space enhance defense capabilities, our increasing reliance on them increases our vulnerability. The world’s reliance on technologies in these spaces have outpaced efforts for effective cybersecurity. Additionally, we lack standards of international law to govern which activities in space are acceptable or could be considered acts of war. A strong understanding of the intersection of cyber and outer space is necessary for effective national security strategies to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

Reprogrammable satellite launched

A flexible, software-defined satellite designed under a European Space Agency Partnership Project with satellite operator Eutelsat and prime manufacturer Airbus was launched on July 30th. Because the satellite can be reprogrammed, it can serve multiple purposes throughout its 15-year lifespan. While this flexible software plan can make space systems more dynamic and nimble, it also introduces a new layer of cybersecurity vulnerability.

Space station situation with Russian module misfire more serious than stated: report

On July 29th, the Russian research module, Nauka, docked on the International Space Station (ISS). A few hours later, the module accidentally fired its thrusters which tilted the ISS and caused it to lose attitude control, which is control of the orientation of the axis of the spacecraft. While NASA originally reported that the incident caused the ISS to rotate 45 degrees outside of attitude, Zebulon Scoville, the NASA flight director, later amended the report to say that the station spun one-and-a-half revolutions, about 540 degrees outside of attitude. According to the director-general of Roscosmos, Russia’s state-run space corporation, “‘There were problems related to guidance system algorithms.’” This incident brings to light the potential physical results of cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Satellites Can Be a Surprisingly Great Option for IoT

The satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) network industry is growing. SImilarly to satellite broadband, satellite connectivity for IoT is a last resort for those without terrestrial connectivity options such as Wi-Fi or cell. Satellite connections for IoT networks are suited to where terrestrial infrastructure does not or cannot exist, such as to track shipping across oceans or transportation between multiple countries. This industry faces all of the cybersecurity risks of working with satellites combined with the risks of IoT. These IoT risks include that each piece of technology in the network represents a unique attack vector and there is a lack of comprehensive or consistent regulation of security standards for these devices. To learn more about IoT security, click here. 

EVENTS

CCIC 2021

The California Cybersecurity Institute’s 2021 California Cyber Innovation Challenge is a cybersecurity competition for middle and high school students that takes place on a virtual immersive 3D platform. This year’s CCIC will focus on “Gamification & Esports for Space and Cybersecurity Skills Development.” The event will highlight the convergence of space, cybersecurity, and digital forensics. The CCIC will be held October 1-3, 2021.

SATELLITE 2021

SATELLITE serves the satellite and space communities, focusing on the commercial technology used by the government/military, broadcasters, telecommunications companies, and the mobility markets such as ground transportation, maritime, and aviation. In 2021, SATELLITE will offer a more immersive experience, providing content and networking both in-person and online throughout the year to keep the global satellite community connected across time zones, countries, and platforms. SATELLITE 2021 will take place September 7-10, 2021.

Space Acquisition Forum

During GovConWire’s Space Acquisition Forum, distinguished federal and industry leaders will discuss aligning space acquisition goals along with acquisition reform and modernization. Shawn Barnes, Acting Assistant Secretary Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration will be the keynote speaker. The Space Acquisition Forum will be held on September 14, 2021. 

Global Satellite Servicing Forum

The 4th Annual Global Satellite Servicing Forum (GSSF) will convene in online/virtual format. A mix of panels, keynotes, breakout sessions, and lightning talks will cover a wide range of topics and development in on-orbit satellite servicing and maintenance capabilities, including manufacturing and assembly. The GSSF 2021 will take place September 29-30, 2021.

GEOINT Symposium

USGIF's GEOINT Symposium is the largest annual gathering of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) professionals in the nation. The symposium is a unique and unparalleled opportunity to speak to your extended constituency spanning government, industry, and academia. In addition to keynotes from senior leaders, the event offers more than 50 hours of professional training and education, myriad meetings for focused communities of interest, a highly regarded Young Professionals Program, an extensive exhibit hall, dynamic networking opportunities, and much more. The GEOINT Symposium will be held October 5-8, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

THANK YOU

Thank you for coming to us here at the CCI for your space and cyber-related news. We welcome any feedback you may have. We will see you next month, and don’t forget to keep up on your own cyber hygiene.
 

Until next time,

The CCI Team
 

Contact us at:

cci@calpoly.edu