Space Threats
The United States should follow France’s lead in space
Sometimes, even when you’re No. 1, it pays to follow another’s lead. A case in point is the French Government’s recent announcement to develop bodyguard spacecraft to protect its satellites against Russian and Chinese robotic spacecraft capable of rendezvous and proximity operations.
Op-ed | A new mission for DARPA’s RSGS robotic spacecraft: satellite bodyguard
Maxar's exit has a silver lining: DARPA can and should repurpose the RSGS program to defined U.S. military satellites against attacks from supposedly peaceful Chinese and Russian robotic spacecraft.
Op-Ed | Applying Weeden’s ‘Real Talk and Real Solutions’ to real space robotic threats
We must correct a wrong notion that bringing up robotic threats would raise doubts about the enormous benefits in the development and deployment of commercial robotic servicing spacecraft. Dual-use systems always have the dangerous side, which can be fixed if we do not ignore it.
Growing U.S. satellite vulnerability: The silent ‘Apocalypse Next’
The United States needs to accelerate development of its own robust defensive satellites and clarify its rights to protect its key space systems.
Air Force space budget choices under scrutiny; SecAF Wilson explains why SBIRS and JSTARS must go
For those who have been waiting for the Air Force to shake up its space investment portfolio, the budget request for 2019 was as disruptive as can be expected from the military.
Space race underway to protect satellite communications networks
The space weapons that U.S. military commanders fear most are not missiles aimed at satellites.
Air Force Reserve grooming space warriors
Air Force leaders generally agree that the service will need more skills in three key areas: space, cyber and intelligence. Where that talent will come from is still a matter of debate.
Milspace officials say resiliency is about more than just spending more money
Don’t look for a line item marked “resiliency” in the space budget. That was the message from top Defense Department space officials at this month's Washington Space Business Roundtable lunch.
Experts call for legislation and improved tracking to deal with orbital debris
As the amount of debris in low Earth orbit continues to increase, experts at a recent conference called for both improved efforts to track debris as well as national legislation to mitigate that growth.
Who’s keeping satellites safe from cyberattacks?
IoT will present enormous challenges for people who offer satellite communications products and services because each connected device from refrigerators to tractors offers hackers a point of entry into the network and a way to target other elements of the network.
Report: Canada should work with U.S. to protect satellites as “critical infrastructure”
Canada’s space assets must be declared as part of the nation’s critical infrastructure and the country should work with the U.S. to protect those systems from threats, a new report from a Canadian Senate committee recommends.
The JICSpOC is dead; Long live the National Space Defense Center
One of the national security space sector’s longest acronyms just got a lot shorter.
Congress warned of GPS vulnerabilities
The U.S. Global Positioning System can be disrupted too easily and needs better protection, experts testified during a March 29 congressional hearing on space threats and the implications for homeland security.
STRATCOM’s No. 2 says clear space norms could help with North Korea
Speaking the day after a North Korean missile exploded within seconds of launch, U.S. Strategic Command’s second-in-command said March 23 that the reclusive nation still poses a security challenge, but one that the space domain can help meet.
Space Data Assn., AGI working to improve commercial space traffic center
The organizations announced March 6 they reached an agreement to launch an updated Space Data Center Space Traffic Management service that will provide satellite tracking, radio frequency spectrum management, and conjunction warning services to companies.
Protecting satellites from cyber attacks isn’t getting any easier
Satellites service and equipment suppliers remain on high alert, watching for signs individual hackers or powerful nation states are trying to breach their network’s cybersecurity. That job is becoming increasingly complex as satellite networks become an integral part of larger terrestrial networks.
