Exploiting Spacecraft
Demonstrates command replay, command link intrusion, and GPS jamming attacks against operational spacecraft simulators.
Summary
The Spacecraft Threat Landscape
Space assets increasingly face cyber threats targeting ground stations, satellite communications links, and onboard flight computers controlling mission payloads.
Command Replay and Link Intrusion Attacks
Using high-fidelity spacecraft simulation environments, researchers demonstrated how unauthenticated or weakly protected uplink channels permit command replay attacks and unauthorized command injection.
Denial of Service via GPS Jamming
Simulating localized GPS jamming against spacecraft positioning receivers illustrates how loss of precise timing and orbit determination degrades satellite pointing accuracy and payload functionality.
Defensive Hardening for Space Missions
Mitigating spacecraft exploits requires implementing robust cryptographic authentication on telemetry and telecommand links, securing ground segment control software, and auditing simulated flight hardware.
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