Space & Cybersecurity Newsletter - June 2021
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Space Force focuses on building a digital workforce
US Space Force Gen. John Raymond stated in a Senate Appropriations Defense Committee hearing that an abundance of talent applying for coding positions allows for the Space Force to be “‘very selective’” in picking candidates. In their effort to recruit “space professionals for a highly digital environment,” the Space Force has designed a talent management strategy of their own called the “Guardian Strategy.” Acting Air Force Secretary John Roth included in his testimony that public private partnerships will be key moving forward in this digital space, citing cybersecurity as being fundamental for future operations.
California Cyber Innovation Challenge (CCIC)
The California Cybersecurity Institute (CCI) will be hosting the CCIC October 1st-3rd, 2021. The CCI has training available for students and coaches in preparation for the Challenge, which will focus on space and cybersecurity skills development. Teams must be registered by September 15th, 2021, and judges, volunteers, and sponsors are invited to explore more at the link provided above.
REACH, VSFB unveil space master plan to boost Central Coast economy
Cal Poly, Deloitte, Santa Barbara County, and the State of California’s Governor’s Office have all partnered under the Central Coast’s Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH) to further establish Vandenberg as a competitive space enterprise. This plan will boost the local economy, with attracting space professionals to the Central Coast. Cal Poly’s economic impact analysis found that “Vandenberg Space Force Base currently employs more than 14,000 people on the Central Coast, averaging an annual output of $4.5 billion.” This new Commercial Space Master Plan is projected to “add nearly 2,000 well-paying jobs and an additional $1.5 billion of local annual output by 2030.”
INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS
Space and Cybersecurity at the G7 Summit
7 countries, including the U.S., are uniting to develop a satellite-based quantum technology encryption network. The Federated Quantum System (FQS) will be based on a commercial product developed by the British startup, Arqit, and will involve public private partnerships in each of the participating nations. The FQS will allow government entities to communicate more securely across a sovereign-controlled network. Learn more.
Additionally, the G7 leaders agreed to focus on the development of common standards of sustainable operations in space as well as space traffic management and coordination. Sustainability in space refers primarily to the mitigation of space junk. They also called on other nations to follow the United Nations' Long-term Sustainability Guidelines, which outline best practices in the use of space. Learn more.
Space attacks could trigger Article 5: NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has extended its mutual defense clause, known as Article 5, to cover potential attacks to, from, or within space because of the Alliance’s reliance on space for commerce and security. Article 5 states that an attack on one member state can be seen as an attack on all members.
SPACE & CYBER SYSTEMS
Space & Cyber Vulnerabilities
Space is being increasingly militarized and space assets are both more relied upon and more vulnerable. Current threats include space debris, anti-satellite systems, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Learn more. Recall the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ annual ‘Space Threat Assessment’ described cyber vulnerabilities as data intercept or monitoring, data corruption or seizure of control. These vulnerabilities are particularly notable because they can be subtle and destructive. Learn more. Additionally, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has cryptographic standards and guidelines, we do not yet have best practices for quantum cryptography. Learn more.
Future Threats
Russia and China unveiled a roadmap for a joint International Lunar Research Station Wednesday to guide collaboration and development of the project. The final “utilization” phase beyond 2036 would see the start of crewed landings. Learn more. Additionally, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin has sold the spare seat of the company’s 20 July New Shepard space rocket blast-off for $28m. Learn more. As more people gain access to space, the risk of physical cybersecurity breaches increase. Currently, it would be very difficult for someone to enter space to install malware on a satellite, for example, but in the future sufficient vetting of those going to space and physical cybersecurity measures will be increasingly important.
COVID-19-related supply chain disruption has caused a microchip shortage that could take years to settle, exacerbated by surging demand for technology during the pandemic as consumers stayed at home. In addition to increasing prices of technology, this shortage has potential cybersecurity implications such as unpredictable project timelines that do not allow for sufficient cybersecurity or incompatibility between the most secure software and out-of-date hardware.
Adversarial Chinese Systems
China aims to launch the world’s first 6G satellite, in a global race to occupy low Earth orbit (LEO) where first-comers have a huge advantage. China is seeking to dominate the field with faster speeds, whereas SpaceX seeks to dominate LEO with thousands of satellites. Learn more.
Meanwhile, The Pentagon is working with space companies to protect American intellectual property from Chinese espionage. Many of these space companies are small businesses who have less capability to maintain holistic cybersecurity than larger firms. Learn more.
DOMESTIC EFFORTS
Space Force Focused Funding From U.S. Government
Under the current U.S. administration, the Space Force stands out as a clear beneficiary for the 2022 budget proposal. The Space Force is the only military branch projected to grow, with an increase of 2,000 more Guardians. The Space Force will see an increased budget of over $2B, with $17.4B of the $715B defense budget being earmarked for a quickly growing force. Some notable budget requests include:
-
The Pentagon’s $15.3B request for space technology investments, with an increase in classified research and development programs (Learn more).
-
$26M to “Fix UEWR funding for Upgraded Early Warning Radar 24/7 Operations.”
-
$431M for training and education, with $279M going to classified efforts
-
$113M for new missions, including $70 for deep space exploration
Learn more about these proposals.
Space Organizations Partner To Boost Cybersecurity
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) have begun a cooperation that focuses on “cyber information sharing, awareness, education, and outreach to improve the security of space operations.” This reflects an acceleration of proactivity within the space industry in prioritizing cyber specific information as opposed to waiting for government action. In this collaborative effort, AIAA will contribute “sector-specific knowledge,” while the Space ISAC will “provide cyber-specific information and resources directly applicable to the aerospace industry.”
Space-Based Capabilities Critical to U.S. National Security, DOD Officials Say
DOD officials noted that facing the challenges that Chinese and Russian space competition pose will rely upon the U.S. honing its own space-based capabilities. Noting the success of the Space Force over the last year, officials mentioned that continuing to build relationships and partnering with “industry and academia to leverage technology and innovation of the commercial sector” will be critical in ensuring national security in the face of adversarial space-based threats.
Overview of Threats to U.S. Space Industry in 2021
The CCI has noticed a trend as it relates to industrial resiliency under the pressures of cybersecurity in space systems. Some vulnerabilities include lapses in technology, the supply chain that supports the development of these systems, and the “human element.” Prioritizing security of every space development is mission critical, especially as threat actors continue targeting the cyber domain. The more dedication to cybersecurity in space-based systems, the better we are able to protect the integrity of our space infrastructure and national security.
EVENTS
The Space-Comm Expo based in the United Kingdom will be hosted at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre on July 7th-8th, 2021. This is a “new trade exhibition focused on the commercialization of space for business, defense, and aerospace,” and “will showcase the manufacturing supply chain for products, services and solutions supplying commercial enterprises and developments in space.” Register for the in-person event.
The California Cybersecurity Institute’s 2021 California Cyber Innovation Challenge will focus on “Gamification & Esports for Space and Cybersecurity Skills Development.” The event will highlight the convergence of space and cybersecurity and Digital Forensics. The CCIC will be held October 1-3, 2021.
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: