3 NewSpace startups solving major Cybersecurity challenges

Cybersecurity challenges linked to NewSpace

Previously, satellites and space infrastructure were secure by obscurity. It means that secrecy was the main method of cybersecurity because only governments had access to Space. However, the moment Space became accessible to companies, security by obscurity was no longer. Space is becoming an attractive target for cyberattacks.

• The remoteness of satellites makes them difficult to secure and monitor.

• The use of new technologies in space, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, introduces new security vulnerabilities.

• Space infrastructure was not designed with cyberattacks in mind. Institutions relied on obscurity so the satellites that are in Space are vulnerable to attacks.

3 startups at the intersection of Cybersecurity and Space

• eStellar Space leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and respond to security threats in real time. Their mission to to offer security solutions that are easily accessible, affordable, and highly effective for satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The company was founded in 2023 and honestly their landing page could use some work but curious to see where they go.

• SpaceBelt: cloud constellation of 10 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) that offers an isolated cloud infrastructure in Space allowing transfer of data without going across any international network

• SpaceChain allows banks to directly communicate with on-orbit satellites without requiring internet connection. They also developed a key management system in Space. Private keys are stored in satellites and are used to sign financial transaction. A blockchain network is also used to keep a record of all transactions.

In April 2023, cybersecurity researchers from Thales, a French defence giant, demonstrated how they could seize control of a European Space Agency (ESA) satellite. It was the first time that anyone had successfully hacked a satellite in orbit.

The hacked ESA nano-satellite is called OPS-SAT, it was launched in 2019. OPS-SAT is designed to test new technologies for satellites, and it is not currently in use for any operational missions. A vulnerability in the satellite's software was exploited allowing Thales to gain access to the satellite's control systems and take over its operations. The researchers were able to do this without physically touching the satellite, which is what makes this hacking exercise so significant.

This hacking exercise is a wake-up call for the space industry. It shows that satellites are vulnerable to cyberattacks, and that more needs to be done to secure them.

The cybersecurity of space is a complex and challenging issue. However, the startups and organisations mentioned above are making significant progress in addressing these challenges. As a result, space is becoming a safer and more secure place.