Space & Cybersecurity Newsletter February 2022
INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS
Russia
As the situation in Ukraine progresses, our thoughts are with all those impacted. We will continue to keep you informed. Please let us know if you would like more frequent email updates or if you would like to submit a comment. We encourage you to take action on your personal cybersecurity practices and protect your workplace to be vigilant against potential ransomware attacks.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, NATO, the EU, and the US persists, American space firms have been highlighted as potential targets. Since the 2014 Crimean conflict, Russia has jammed GPS in Eastern Ukraine, supporting the claim that Russia has the means and the will to do so. With Ukraine’s reliance upon sources including US satellites for imagery about Russian troops, these satellites are a clear target, yet Russia is wary of doing so given it could trigger US involvement in Ukraine.
Despite this perceived wariness, on February 16th, CISA released an alert that indicated that Russian state-sponsored cyber actors targeted cleared defense contractor networks to obtain sensitive US defense information and technology. CISA claims that these intrusions have “enabled the actors to acquire sensitive, unclassified information, as well as CDC-proprietary and export-controlled technology.”
CISA is not the only entity seeing an increase in cyber intrusions by Russia. Ukraine’s biggest commercial banking operation PrivatBank, alongside Oschadbank, suffered DDoS attacks, sabotaging PrivatBank’s website and taking ATMs offline.
All of these developments come on the heels of Moscow objecting to the first-ever UN meeting to consider norms and constraints related to military operations, delaying the meeting to May 2022. Russia raised procedural complaints to the point in which the Palais des Nations in Geneva facility management threatened to kill the lights, ultimately putting an end to the diplomatic discussions.
China
The Chinese government is open to establishing formal lines of communication with the United States on space safety issues. This openness comes in wake of alleged close calls of Starlink satellites with China’s space station. China claimed to the U.N. that authorities tried to reach out to the U.S. while the U.S. replied via U.N. note verbale, claiming it never heard about the close approaches. Formal lines of communication would ease existing challenges and fall in line with the U.N’s guidelines for long-term space sustainability.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office published a three-page unclassified summary of an extensive classified report titled “Challenges Facing DoD in Strategic Competition with China,” saying that “‘successful preparation for strategic competition with China will depend on continuing efforts to increase U.S. combat credibility and enhance conventional deterrence that can help prevent conflict, protect U.S. interests and assure allies,” emphasizing the DoD’s reliance on space and cyber.
As Chinese military capabilities improve, so do their science capabilities and private industry. In recent weeks, a number of China’s emerging rocket companies have secured major funding rounds. These companies cite China’s national Satellite Internet project and associated planned mega-constellation and commercial cargo transport to the under-construction Chinese space station as opportunities. Additionally, a spacecraft involved in China’s 2020 Chang’e-5 lunar sample-return mission is now in a unique orbit around the Moon, likely with the goal of gaining experience with astrodynamics.
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Bipartisan legislation seeks to reform FCC satellite licensing rules
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and the ranking member, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), released drafts of two bills, the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act and Secure Space Act, they say will better equip the Federal Communications Commission for regulating a surge of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites. The proposed legislation touches on foreign ownership rules, space sustainability including mitigating orbital debris, license processing timelines, and satellite spectrum sharing.
Pentagon to rein in defense and aerospace industry mergers
The Defense Department, in a report released Feb. 15, says it will “strengthen oversight” of industry mergers amid concerns that corporate consolidation is undermining U.S. competitiveness. “DoD faces a historically consolidated defense industrial base, making heightened review of any further mergers and acquisitions necessary,” says the report. “When markets are competitive, the Department reaps the benefits through improved cost, schedule and performance.” Over the past three decades, suppliers of tactical missiles have declined from 13 to three, fixed-wing aircraft from eight to three, and satellite suppliers from eight to four.
Space is a 'critical part' of DOD's move to zero trust, CIO says
“Cybersecurity has to be considered a survivability imperative…Cyber cannot be an option anymore,” says DoD CIO John Sherman. Sherman said the adoption of a zero-trust framework is a top priority for his office, adding that the topic is “very much prominent right now with the president’s [cybersecurity] executive order of last year.” He highlighted the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Thunderdome program and the move to Microsoft Office 365 as “examples of what a zero-trust framework can look like for the entire Department of Defense.” Sherman also hopes the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) — which was recently transferred to Sherman’s oversight — will “help raise the waterline” for the security of defense information handled by DOD’s industrial partners.
SpaceX mega constellation raises concerns of increased satellite collisions
In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last week, NASA revealed its concerns about SpaceX's proposal to put another 30,000 satellites into orbit. “An increase of this magnitude into these confided altitude bands inherently brings additional risk of debris-generating collision events based on the number of objects alone.” NASA anticipates current and planned science missions, as well as human space flight operations, will see an increase in conjunctions.” NASA in its letter also pointed out how the existing constellation has become a headache for astronomers, as satellites above the orbital range of Hubble have already caused disruptive light streaks in about 8 percent of the telescope’s images.
Space Force taps Air Force Research Lab leader for key acquisition post
Col. Eric Felt, director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, will be moving to a new post this summer as deputy executive director of the Space Force’s architecture, science, and technology directorate at the Pentagon. He will be replaced by Col. Jeremy Raley, who currently runs the Space Rapid Capabilities Office.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Digital University: Enabling a force for the future
The US Space Force is providing educational resources to the space industry in topics like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Development, Product Management, Design, Cybersecurity and Cloud Architecture through its Digital University [DU].” DU includes a “5-course Force Multiplier program meant to establish a baseline of digital fluency across the service.” DU shifts the focus from a traditional four-year degree program to a more honed in operationally focused education model, improving Guardians’ resources and pragmatic capabilities.
EVENTS
Registration is now open for Cal Poly's CubeSat Developers Workshop. The Developers Workshop is taking place April 26-28, 2022. The State of California CADENCE consortium will also be hosting a no-cost event on Friday, April 29 following the 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop.
The CyberLEO conference is the only cybersecurity event dedicated to LEO and emerging technologies. Hear from high-level leaders in satellite, space, cybersecurity, and government for discussions and in-depth insight into the latest cyber threats. The CyberLEO Classified Program will take place at Aerospace Corporation on May 11, 2022 and the CyberLEO Unclassified Program will take place at the Hyatt Regency LAX May 12-13, 2022.
CCI will be hosting the 2022 Grand Space Challenge October 7-9. This will be an international competition amongst middle and high school students, featuring a gamified satellite cybercrime scenario to help solve Mission Kolluxium Z-85-0. To register a team, click here.
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