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Space & Cybersecurity Newsletter - November 2020

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Space Force gets its first vice chief of space operations

As of October 2, 2020, General David “DT” Thompson is the Space Force’s vice chief of operations. The vice chief’s role is to work with the other branches’ and provide the space perspective in the Pentagon processes. Thompson says his first priorities are establishing a Space Force headquarters in the Pentagon and creating a “Space Warfighting Integration Center,” which will be similar to Army Futures Command.
 

Securing space: The military, academia and business find common goal in the stars

“Today, and largely because of technological innovation … we’re seeing more and more companies [and] countries … have the ability. We’re seeing this blossom of space companies that we sort of refer to as new space.” says Major General Clinton E. Crosier. “New space” and the changes and innovations in the space sector were the themes of the discussion between Crosier, Preston Miller (chief information officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and Brigadier General Steve “Bucky” Butow (space portfolio director at the Defense Innovation Unit). They discussed aging infrastructure, space systems, space commercialization, and cybersecurity in space.
 

Space Force buyers make recruiting pitch to tech companies

The Pentagon contracting process can be a major deterrent to tech companies interested in selling products to the military. The U.S. Space Force is aware of that problem and is trying to incentivize suppliers that are developing cutting-edge technologies. “We have test facilities, experts, capabilities we can provide if you want to bring your technology,” said Colonel Eric Felt, director of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate. The Space Force is trying innovative ways of courting companies to accelerate the contracting process and collaborate in a new way.
 

Starship Troopers? TRANSCOM-SpaceX Accord Raises Policy Eyebrows

This October, Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) entered into a new partnership with SpaceX and XArc to study whether cargo, and people, could be rapidly transported to hot spots via spacecraft. This decision has brought on admiration and skepticism. While experts realize the TRANSCOM’s willingness to consider new ideas, they are doubtful of the program for technical, economic, and bureaucratic reasons. Carissa Christensen, CEO of Bryce Space and Technologies says it’s always worthwhile for DoD to explore “groundbreaking and potentially impracticable ideas” because “you learn things,” but the idea of point-to-point transportation through space is an idea whose time has not yet come.

 

SPACE THREATS & ADVERSARIAL EFFORTS

DOD Works to Increase Cybersecurity for U.S. and Allies

DOD Senior Director for Cybersecurity Policy Madeline Motelmans recently described the Defense Department’s current cybersecurity stance and efforts regarding Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and non-state actors seeking to harm U.S. infrastructure and interests in cyberspace. Among these adversaries, “90% of economic espionage cases involved China and more than two-thirds of the cases involved in the theft of trade secrets were connected to China.” In response, the U.S. Cyber Command is proactively defending the U.S. and allies across the globe to ensure these threats are countered before reaching the homeland. Working with allies and partners, Cybercom’s forward operations include “understanding what adversaries are trying to do and what the threat looks like.”
 

Cyber Attack Most Likely Space Threat: Maj. Gen. Whiting

Deputy Commander of the U.S. Space Force, Maj. Gen Stephen Whiting, places cyber defense as a “top mission priority” for the new service. In the new Spacepower Capstone Doctrine, cyber is listed as one of the key “‘spacepower disciplines’ required for the new service to undertake its missions.” The new service’s cyber warriors will be concentrated in “Delta 6,” where teams of cyber defense experts will work in hand with space operators to ensure the protection and monitoring of space and weapons systems.

 

CYBER & SPACE SYSTEMS

Firms Picked to Make Orbiting Sensors for Next-Gen US Missile-Defense System

The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency (SDA), which will become part of the U.S. Space Force in 2022, selected SpaceX and L3Harris Technologies to produce satellites and sensors that can track and target advanced missile threats from outer space. Through the broader program, SDA aims to implement a robust architecture made up of multiple layers of nearly 1,000 satellites that can provide unique military insights and capabilities such as spotting hypersonic weapons or potentially deterring potentially aggressive actions in cislunar space, or the area within the Moon’s orbit by 2026.
 

Satellite Cyber Influencers Discuss Evolving Landscape

Cybersecurity is crucial in every aspect of satellite technology as the cyber threat landscape evolves. The question now is what the satellite industry can do to make sure it stays ahead of the curve. The satellite industry is currently behind in some aspects, such as security of ground infrastructure. The industry relies on the security of every piece of the supply chain and supply chain members such as Viasat have seen increased interest and attention focused on cybersecurity from both government and commercial customers. Software-defined satellites also present another potential line of attack for malicious actors.
 

Boeing Wins $477M DLA Contract to Help Manage Weapon Systems Supply Chain; John Guasto Quoted

Boeing has been awarded a $477 million performance-based contract from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to provide supplies, full supply chain management and logistics services. Boeing will support individual contracts and deliver forecasting, demand planning, acquiring, stocking, packaging and shipping for the individually priced consumables directly to warfighter locations.
 

Ligado Exemplifies Broken US Spectrum Management: Industry Experts

The FCC’s controversial decision to let Ligado proceed with its 5G wireless network over fierce DoD objections is just one more example of the broken state of the US regime for managing spectrum, industry experts say. “[T]he United States’ current approach for managing the use of spectrum is no longer effectively serving the needs of the entire stakeholder community and would benefit from reform,” the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) says in a recent report. The DoD, the Intelligence Community, the Transportation Department, the FAA, the Agriculture Department, and congressional defense committee leaders have charged that the Ligado plan will create serious interference to GPS receivers used both by commercial/civil users and US troops.

 

OFF-WORLD PROGRAMS

US & seven other nations sign Artemis Accords to cooperate on moon missions

NASA’s Artemis mission to put boots on the moon “as early as 2024” is the spearhead of an effort between the U.S,, Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, Italy, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates. The Artemis Accords commit these countries to “observe a set of principles ranging from the interoperability of space hardware,” and space property rights. Each signatory will be in charge of ensuring commercial partners under their jurisdictions observe such requirements.
 

NASA Awards Lockheed Martin, ULA, SpaceX Contracts for Moon, Mars Technologies

A group including SpaceX, ULA, and Lockhead Martin have been contracted a $260 million award to develop cryogenic fluid management systems. Other companies, including ENokia of America Corporation, have also received contracts to develop technologies in support of building an “‘array of mission-ready capabilities’” for a “‘sustainable presence on the Moon and future human missions to Mars.’” In total, over $370 million has been awarded to companies working towards the Artemis mission to develop technologies ranging from LTE/4G communication capabilities on the Moon, to the demonstration of missions that demonstrate new propulsion methods.
 

Elon Musk’s SpaceX says it will ‘make its own laws on Mars'

According to the Starlink internet project’s app’s Terms of Service, SpaceX will not recognize international law on Mars. Elon Musk’s space company will instead reportedly adhere to a set of “self-governing principles" that will be defined at the time of Martian settlement. Users noted that the terms of service within the app state that Starlink services provided to Earth or Moon will be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. As more private enterprises enter space, the reach of international law and space treaties will be tested, impacting security, international relations, and commercial regulation on Earth.

 

OTHER NEWS

FAA publishes streamlined commercial launch regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration has released the final version of its Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements (SLR2). Under the new regulations, launch companies will have the leeway to propose alternatives to meet safety requirements, as the new rules “are intended to be ‘performance based.’” The FAA acknowledges that this is an ever evolving regulatory framework, and that there will continue to be plenty of work to be done around these regulations. The updated regulations take effect January 15th, 2021.
 

SpaceX teams with Microsoft for Space Development Agency contract

SpaceX won a $149 million contract from the DoD Space Development Agency “to build four satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.” Microsoft is a subcontractor working with SpaceX on this program, whose Azure orbital emulator will be used to assist users in seeing what the satellites see, helping “model scenarios and simulate the architecture.” The new SDA satellites will have the ability to detect and track advanced missile threats from low Earth orbit.

 

EVENTS

Space & Cybersecurity Symposium Recap

On October 5-8, 2020, Cal Poly hosted a series of solutions-focused conversations on the intersection of space and cybersecurity. The symposium featured key leadership from academia, government, industry, and military who participated in interviews and panel sessions to discuss the latest industry updates and strategies to secure our resources and supply chains. Revisit the symposium sessions and read recap articles about the event to learn more.
 

22nd Annual Global MilSatCom

The UK based SMi Group will be hosting MilSatCom November 10th through November 12th, and will cover topics ranging from SATCOM resilience, to “the impact of emergent LEO mega-constellations.” This conference and exhibition will bring together defense agencies and industry experts from across the world to interact through conference sessions and network receptions. Learn more by registering for the conference.
 

Defense Space 2020 – The Virtual Event for Space Professionals

On November 17th through November 18th, The Air and Space Power Association will be hosting the Defense Space 2020 virtual conference. This event will focus on the mobilization and modernization of space defense capabilities, primarily focusing on the UK’s Ministry of Defense. Register for the event to learn more about space defense.
 

SIA’s Virtual DoD Commercial SATCOM Workshop

Beginning on Wednesday, December 16 at 10:00 am, the Satellite Industry Association will be hosting their 16th annual SATCOM workshop, which will bring together DoD representatives, alongside private industry leaders. The event will cover topics ranging from mission resilience and assurance, to the innovative leaps made within industry. The Workshop will conclude Thursday, December 17 at 3:00 pm. If you are interested in attending, be sure to register.

 

THANKS!

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:
ccinewsletter@calpoly.edu