Signals and Space: Threats to a space supply chain. Resiliency, offensive capabilities, and the US FY 2024 budget.

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Summary

By the CyberWire staff

At a glance.

LockBit counts coup against an aerospace supply chain.
A strategy for protecting both space and terrestrial infrastructure.
US Space Force's proposed FY 2034 budget.
Seeking resilience through commercial space capabilities.
"Offensive capabilities" for US Space Force.

LockBit counts coup against an aerospace supply chain.

The LockBit ransomware gang claims to have compromised Maximum Industries, a supplier of components to SpaceX, SecurityWeek reports. The prize LockBit claims to have obtained includes some three-thousand engineering drawings, said to be "certified by SpaceX engineers." The text of LockBit's communique makes it clear that the target is SpaceX, not its supplier. The gang posted an announcement on its dark web page: "I would say we were lucky if SpaceX contractors were more talkative. But I think this material will find its buyer as soon as possible. Elon Musk we will help you sell your drawings to other manufacturers - build the ship faster and fly away. and now about the numbers: about 3,000 drawings certified by space-x engineers We will launch the auction in a week. ALL AVAILABLE DATA WILL BE PUBLISHED !" (Sic, we hardly need to add--the eccentric diction is commonplace in the cybercriminal underworld.) SecurityWeek observes sensibly that ransomware gangs are known to include some whoppers in their claims, and that LockBit's announcement should be regarded with cautious skepticism.

Javvad Malik, lead awareness advocate at KnowBe4, wrote to comment that not all online extortion involves ransomware proper. “When people hear of extortion, their mind immediately goes to ransomware. However, ransomware is just one tool in an attacker's arsenal. The data is the actual gold dust that the criminals are after. If they can exfiltrate it, then they have immense leverage over the victim," Malik said. "This raises the important questions of how criminals get into organizations, how they spend so long undetected, and how can sensitive data be exfiltrated without being blocked. The answers to these extend beyond simply looking at point products, but is really about looking at the overall security culture in an organization and how it can be strengthened in a positive manner to reduce the overall risk.”

A strategy for protecting both space and terrestrial infrastructure.

The LockBit incident was a conventional cyberattack on an IT system, but there's a cyber threat to space-based infrastructure proper, too. The US National Cybersecurity Strategy, published last week, outlines an approach to securing that infrastructure.

The White House shared that two primary focus areas of the strategy are to “rebalance the responsibility to defend cyberspace,” by shifting the burden of cybersecurity away from individuals and onto specialized organizations in the sector, as well as to “realign incentives to favor long-term investments” by balancing threat defense with smart planning and investment. The strategy is planned to prioritize ease and effectiveness of cybersecurity implementation, quick recovery from incidents, and reinforcement of digital values in three points highlighted by the administration: defensibility, resiliency, and values-alignment.

The strategy has five core tenets: “Defend critical infrastructure, disrupt and dismantle threat actors, shape market forces to drive security and resilience, invest in a resilient future, and forge international partnerships to pursue shared goals.”

The Strategy found prompt expression in the President's Budget for FY 2023. In the section devoted to the Defense budget, one of the goals called out was to "Increase Space Resilience." The document explains, "Space is vital to U.S. national security and integral to modern warfare. The Budget maintains America’s advantage by improving the resilience of U.S. space architectures, such as in space sensing and communications, to bolster deterrence and increase survivability during hostilities."

US Space Force's proposed FY 2024 budget.

The Department of Defense released an overview of US Space Force's proposed FY 2024 budget this afternoon. General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, described the threats that budget is designed to equip Space Force to meet. "When describing space threats, it is important to account for two kinds: first, threats from space assets and second, threats to space assets," Saltzman said. And he called out Russia and China as competitors who deploy significant capabilities in and against space systems. "Both China and Russia continue to develop, field and deploy a range of weapons aimed at U.S. space capabilities," hel said. "The spectrum of threats to U.S. space capabilities includes cyber warfare activities, electronic attack platforms, directed energy lasers designed to blind or damage satellite sensors, ground-to-orbit missiles to destroy satellites and space-to-space orbital engagement systems that can attack U.S. satellites in space."

Breaking Defense reports that US Space Force's piece of the FY 2023 President's Budget amounts to $30 billion. That's $5.5 billion more than the Administration requested last year, and $3.9 billion more than Congress actually appropriated for FY 2022. The biggest increases in funding would go to missile-tracking and early-warning programs, and, of course, to the Space Development Agency. C4ISRNet quotes briefing documents that specify some of the R&D goals: “The focus is on long-range kill chains, resilient missile warning and missile tracking, operational test and training infrastructure, protecting and enhancing strategic systems and bolstering foundational elements.”

Seeking resilience through commercial space capabilities.

Space News points out that the resilience the National Cybersecurity Strategy and the President's Budget call for is being sought, in part, through the purchase of a range of commercial services. The Defense Department is also interested in ensuring that it has a diverse set of commercial suppliers. The value of SpaceX's Starlink to Ukraine during Russia's invasion has been obvious, but, as Defense One reports, SpaceX's more recent decision to limit the uses Ukraine might make of its services has revealed the imprudence of becoming too reliant on a single vendor for mission-essential space capabilities.

"Offensive capabilities" for US Space Force.

One of the items called out in the FY 2023 budget is an "offensive" capability for Space Force. Breaking Defense has an account of what that means. In a March 10th briefing, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, explained “There are hard kill and soft kill capabilities, if you will, that we’re funding." The distinction between a hard- and a soft-kill is a familiar one in targeting. A hard kill is, in its extreme form, a completely destructive one. A soft kill deprives a system of ability to carry out its mission, whether by disrupting communications, mobility, or some other essential capability.

Notes.

Today's issue includes events affecting Angola, Australia, China, the European Union, Russia, and the United States.

Selected Reading

Appropriations, Procurement, and Acquisitions

Angola Orders Earth Observation Satellite from Airbus (Via Satellite) Angola has ordered its first Earth observation satellite, Angeo-1, from Airbus Defence and Space. The satellite will be an Airbus S250 optical satellite.

Aussie Space Command looks to electronic warfare, other tech to deter attacks on satellites (Breaking Defense) "I think it's a really important part of where we go to is just looking at how we can have that sort of electronic warfare type of capability to allow us to deter attacks or certainly interfere," the head of Australia's Defense Space Command said.

SPACECOM plans new, unified 'Commercial Integration Office' to work with private firms (Breaking Defense) The new office will coordinate the commercial cooperation activities of the Joint Task Force-Space Defense at Schriever SFB in Colorado and the Combined Force Space Component Command at Vandenberg SFB in California.

Space Force to launch 'marketplace' for satellite-to-cellular communications services - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) The plan is for Space Systems Command's Commercial Satellite Communications Office to set up a contracting vehicle that allows military users to buy satellite-direct-to-cellular communications capability as a service, said Clare Grason, who heads that office.

SDA Awards Raytheon and CesiumAstro Contracts for PWSA Network (Via Satellite) The Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded both Raytheon Technologies and CesiumAstro contracts announced Thursday related to its Proliferated Warfighter

Space Business and Market Trends

Examining the Changing Dynamics of Competition for Rapidly Evolving Satellite Constellations (Via Satellite) Established satellite operators, SES and Eutelsat, joined panelists from SpaceX, emerging constellation provider Mangata Networks and network orchestration player Aalyria, in a lively debate on the viability of constellations businesses, the state of competition, the merits of vertical integration and the role of cloud infrastructure in changing the face of the market.

Analysts Tackle Consolidation, Space Economy, and Sustainability Issues (Satellite Today) In our annual roundtable, we talk with leading analysts about the key issues facing the industry.

Satellite-to-Cell Partnerships, Tech, and Regulatory Issues Take Center Stage (Satellite Today) Satellite direct-to-cell is an area that has dramatically increased in activity in the past year, with new demonstrations, services, and partnerships launched.

Rocket Lab More Than Triples its Revenue in 2022, Led by Space Systems Growth (Via Satellite) Rocket Lab more than tripled its revenue in 2022, propelled by growth in its Space Systems business. The launcher and spacecraft manufacturer released

Raytheon wins $250M contract to build missile warning/tracking sats to monitor Chinese launches (Breaking Defense) The new satellites will be integrated into SDA's first operationally capable set of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, called "Tranche 1," the SDA spokesperson explained.

Yahsat Sign MoU in Mobility Arena With Calidus Aerospace (Via Satellite) Yahsat is teaming up with Calidus Aerospace, an Abu Dhabi-based provider of next-generation aeronautical and land defence systems, to equip key air and

OneWeb Signs Partnership Deal with Veon (Via Satellite) OneWeb is partnering with the VEON Group (Veon) to provide extended mobile internet connectivity and digital services in emerging markets. The two

Mercury Systems Appoints Christine Fox Harbison as Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer (GlobeNewswire News Room) Mercury Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a technology company that delivers processing...

Sidus Space Names Eric Gillenwater as Chief Commercial Officer (Via Satellite) Sidus Space has appointed Eric Gillenwater as chief commercial officer, the company announced Thursday. Most recently, Gillenwater served as vice

Launch Services

SpaceX mission may herald era of low-cost, reliable space transport (C4ISRNet) If all goes as planned, the company’s 400-foot-tall Starship rocket will be the first fully reusable launch vehicle to reach orbit.

Boeing sees Space Launch System rocket fit for Pentagon missions (Reuters) Boeing is interested in offering its gigantic Space Launch System rocket for an upcoming U.S. military launch procurement program potentially worth billions of dollars, the company said Wednesday, signaling a new strategy for a rocket once exclusive to NASA missions.

Japan's H3 rocket fails in second attempted launch (Nikkei Asia) Rocket ordered to self-destruct minutes after liftoff

Arianespace and ESA Say Nozzle Material Led to Vega C Failure (Via Satellite) Arianespace and the European Space Agency (ESA) have concluded the independent inquiry into the failure of the second Vega C launch, reporting March 3

US Space Force

U.S. Space Force Chief Testifies on Programs and Spending (C-SPAN.org) U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman testified on programs and spending needs before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. Several topics were discussed, including workforce development, recruitment and retention, military deterrence, cyber security, and competition from China and Russia for dominance in space.

Space Force's FY24 budget includes 'offensive' options for space. What does that mean? (Breaking Defense) "There are hard kill and soft kill capabilities, if you will, that we're funding," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said with regards to offensive space weapons, but none that would created dangerous space debris.

Space Force seeks 12% budget boost, to $30B, with R&D focus (Breaking Defense) "The threat is racing to out pace us," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters in a budget pre-briefing on March 10.

Space Force’s $30 billion budget request focuses on development (C4ISRNet) The bulk of the Space Force’s budget, just over $19 billion, would fund development of satellites, ground systems and other enabling technology.

125% Increase to Space Force Bonuses Part of 2024 Budget Request that Would Grow Ranks (Military.com) The Space Force wants to grow the number of Guardians by nearly 10% and hopes to offer almost $5 million in new bonuses to recruit and keep them in the ranks.

Space Force chief outlines 3-part 'competitive endurance' theory aimed at 'space superiority' (Breaking Defense) In a "Commander's Note" dated March 3, obtained by Breaking Defense, Saltzman argues that the need for space superiority in the face of adversary threats is a key reason the Space Force was created.

Space Force's INDOPACOM unit to embed allies to help deter China (Breaking Defense) China's growing number of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites are "designed to find, fix, track and target US forces and allied forces. They're designed to help kill sailors, airmen, soldiers, and Marines," said Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, head of the Space Force's Indo-Pacific component command.

State of the Air Force and Space Force 2023 (Defense One) Training airmen to act more autonomously—and gearing up for more autonomous systems.

How is the US military space sector doing? Depends who you ask. (Defense News) Despite a robust pipeline of activity, the military space-industrial base is facing a number of economic and industrial challenges.

Military Space Operations

Sanctions further delay Russian missile early warning program in space (Defense News) Russia wants at least 10 Tundra satellites in high-elliptical orbit to support its ballistic missile-tracking capabilities.

UPDATED: Chinese Rocket that Delivered Military Spy Satellites Breaks Up Over Texas (USNI News) This post has been updated with a statement from U.S. Space Command and additional information on the path of the debris. The second stage of a Chinese rocket that delivered a trio of military surveillance satellites in June disintegrated over Texas on Wednesday, USNI News has learned. The four-ton component of a Chang Zheng 2D …

Pentagon Looking to Make Sure SpaceX Doesn’t Abandon Them in War (Defense One) Spooked by the company’s new limits in Ukraine, military leaders are mulling new types of contracts.

Monitoring missile launches a ‘complex beast,’ says Space Force commander in South Korea (Stars and Stripes) The newest command in the Space Force is finding a clear role amid new threats from North Korea, according to its commander.

Products, Services, and Solutions

Amazon to Test Satellite Internet Service Starting Next Year (Bloomberg) Company plans $10-billion-plus investment as it cuts elsewhere. Amazon unveiled prototype antenna slightly bigger than Kindle.

Amazon Exec Dave Limp Unveils Project Kuiper User Terminals (Via Satellite) Amazon’s Project Kuiper will launch its first satellites this spring and expects to be beta testing with customers next year, with plans to put more than 3,000 satellites into Low-Earth Orbit.

OneWeb Partners With AWS on Cloud Connectivity (Via Satellite) OneWeb has signed a letter of intent with Amazon Web Services EMEA SARL (AWS) to explore providing cloud-based connectivity and services, the companies

CesiumAstro Jumps into IFC Market With New Phased Array Antenna (Via Satellite) CesiumAstro is jumping into the in-flight connectivity (IFC) market, unveiling a new multi-beam flat panel terminal for aviation on Monday, March 13. It

Kymeta Ships First Flat Panel Antennas to OneWeb (Via Satellite) Kymeta completed the first shipment of its electronically steered Hawk u8 OneWeb Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) terminal, the company announced Monday, March 13 at

The Starlink Exit Plan: How SpaceX’s Satellites Are Bringing Remote Workers to the Wilderness (The Information) The promise of Starlink is simple: You, city dweller, dream of holing up in a cabin, sailing the high seas or vagabonding across the country in an RV. But you’re still going to need an internet connection. Enter Starlink, the satellite internet provider operated by SpaceX that will beam ...

Boeing signs off anti-jamming tech to keep satellites online (Register) China and Russia won't be jammin' US sats no more

Boeing says ground-based system keeps satellites free from jamming (C4ISRNet) The company is developing the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical Enterprise Services ground system, which can defend against electronic warfare threats.

SpaceX Shares Details of Higher Bandwidth V2 Mini Starlink Satellites (Via Satellite) SpaceX shared details of mini second-generation Starlink satellites on Feb. 26, calling them “V2 Minis,” saying the new technology will provide more

Viasat Launches Cybersecurity Service Using Classified Threat Intelligence to Help Protect U.S. Businesses and Critical Infrastructure (PR Newswire) Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced the launch of its Trusted Cybersecurity Services (TCS) solution, a...

Viasat, Ligado, and Skylo to Collaborate on Direct to Device Services (Via Satellite) Viasat, Ligado Networks, and Skylo Technologies plan to work together to offer direct-to-devices services, the companies announced Thursday. The three

Aalyria Shares its Vision for Spacetime, an Agile Platform Designed for Optimizing Networks (Via Satellite) Aalyria, the Google spinoff that emerged from stealth mode in September, made its big-stage debut at SATELLITE 2023 with a demonstration of its buzzy Spacetime software platform on Monday, March 13.

Satellite and Ground Station Operations

Ground Segment Innovates to Enable the New Space Renaissance (Satellite Today) With dramatic jumps in bandwidth, the emergence of multi-constellation networks, 5G NTN and software-defined payloads, 2023 is the year for standards-driven transformation and a pivot to Ground as a Service.

Policy, Strategy, and Regulation

FCC Proposes New Regulations for Satellites Using Terrestrial Spectrum (Via Satellite) The FCC will consider rules that allow satellite operators to operate satellites using terrestrial spectrum, in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

White House cybersecurity strategy warns of ‘complex threat environment’ (SpaceNews) White House cybersecurity strategy warns of ‘complex threat environment’

On Facebook, Visual Misinfo Widespread, Highly Asymmetric Across Party Lines (Tech Policy Press) When it comes to U.S. politics, right-leaning images are 5–8 times more likely to be misleading than left-leaning ones, per new research.

Outer Space as a Growing Security and Defence Domain: Strategic Lessons on Cyber Disruption (ORF) An increasing number of states across the globe have been pushing outer space to the mainstream of their key security and defence policy agendas in recent years.

Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation

The World’s First 3D-Printed Rocket Is About to Launch (WIRED) Relativity Space’s attempt to reach orbit heralds the increasing use of 3D printing in the space sector.

Space Technology

Space Force eyes True Anomaly's satellite 'pursuit' capability for ops, training (Breaking Defense) The company is using private capital to build its hunter satellite, called Jackal, to shadow adversary satellites seeking to evade US tracking.

Four astronauts fly SpaceX back home, end 5-month mission (AP NEWS) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four space station astronauts returned to Earth late Saturday after a quick SpaceX flight home. Their capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast near Tampa.

SpaceX Launches US, Russia, UAE Astronauts to Space Station (Military.com) The Falcon rocket bolted from Kennedy Space Center shortly after midnight, illuminating the night sky as it headed up the East Coast.

How One Guy’s AI Tracked the Chinese Spy Balloon Across the US (WIRED) Computer vision software scoured satellite photos to spot the balloon at six locations around the nation—and is now helping trace it back to its origin.

Space Science

Is it a millipede, or a rock? The ‘evidence’ we’ve already found life on Mars (The Telegraph) Group of academics say they have identified fossilised sponges, corals, worm eggs, algae and more on planet's surface

Heart Tissue Heads to Space to Aid Research on Aging and Impact of Long Spaceflights (Johns Hopkins Medicine Newsroom) Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers are collaborating with NASA to send human heart “tissue-on-a-chip” specimens into space as early as March. The project is designed to monitor the tissue for changes in heart muscle cells’ mitochondria (their power supply) and ability to contract in low-gravity conditions.

Threats and Risks to Space Systems

Ransomware Group Claims Theft of Valuable SpaceX Data From Contractor (SecurityWeek) The LockBit ransomware group claims to have stolen valuable SpaceX data after breaching the systems of Maximum Industries.

The Satellite Hack Everyone Is Finally Talking About (Bloomberg) As Putin began his invasion of Ukraine, a network used throughout Europe—and by the Ukrainian military—faced an unprecedented cyberattack that doubled as an industrywide wake-up call.

Miscellanea

What Will Ethical Space Exploration Look Like? (WIRED) Astrophysicist and 'Off-Earth' author Erika Nesvold maps out the questions we need to ask before living on other planets.

Pentagon UFO chief says alien mothership in our solar system possible (Military Times) The yet-published research paper discusses the possibility that visitors from other galaxies may already be trekking across our solar system.

Congressman Claims the US Government Has "Reverse-Engineered" Alien Tech from UFOs (Futurism) According to one conspiracy-minded Congressional Republican, there's a chance that his employer is reverse-engineering alien technology salvaged from UFOs.

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