| | | | Steely Newsletter Issue #031 |
| Read all about a Russian satellite potentially caught spying, the development of a space tanker that can refuel satellites in orbit, a new cybersecurity framework for mitigating risks to satellites, and so much more! |
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| | Business Insider | Marianne Guenot | 10-25-2023 Russia moved one of its satellites near a French commercial communications satellite, possibly to spy on it. The Russian satellite is believed to be stationed near the Eutelsat 3B satellite, which provides broadband, data, telecom, and video services across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South America. Analysts said the behavior is reminiscent of another Luch Olymp Russian spacecraft that caused a stir in 2015 after it approached a US-based Intelsat satellite. |
| Stars and Stripes | Johnathan Snyder | 10-25-2023 The Space Force awarded a $25.5 million contract to Astroscale U.S. Inc. to develop an in-orbit refueler for military satellites. The refueler will extend the lifetime of satellites, which will improve mission capabilities and reduce costs. The Space Force plans to buy commercial services for refueling in the near term, but may consider creating a refueling-specific career field in the future. Astroscale is expected to release more information about the refueler soon. |
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🛡️Satellite Cybersecurity News |
| Dark Reading | Rebecca Herold | 10-26-2023 Satellite systems are essential for communication, navigation, and other critical applications. However, they face numerous cybersecurity threats, including denial-of-service attacks, malware infiltration, unauthorized access, and jamming. To protect satellite systems, NIST has developed a Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and a Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Hybrid Satellite Networks (HSN). These resources provide guidance on how to engineer, build, and use satellite systems securely. |
| Decode39 | Leonardo Maria Lombardi | 10-25-2023 GPS has been essential for Ukraine's military defense against Russia, but it has also shown its vulnerabilities to jamming. Alternative technologies, such as topographic mapping and AI, can complement GPS and provide more resilient and precise solutions for military use. Specifically, topographic mapping is more accurate in urban areas and less susceptible to jamming than GPS. AI can be used to integrate GPS and topographic mapping, and to develop new technologies such as AI-enabled drone sensors that can find land mines with great accuracy. Governments and military agencies around the world are urgently identifying comparable solutions to GPS, given the increasing vulnerability of satellites to external threats. |
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| | Via Satellite | Rachel Jewett | 10-23-2023 Intellian Technologies and Inmarsat Maritime have partnered to develop a next-generation terminal for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The new terminal will operate over Inmarsat's Elera L-band network and meet the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It will feature a distress chat function that automatically alerts the nearest Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and nearby vessels. The new terminal will be a significant technological advancement in safety services, improving both preventative and reactive communications. |
| Aviation Week | Bill Carey | 10-18-2023 Satellite communications hardware providers, including Honeywell Aerospace, Satcom Direct, and Orbit Communication Systems, are developing next-generation terminals to connect with Viasat and Inmarsat's Ka-band satellite network. This integrated satellite network will support broadband inflight connectivity for both airlines and business aviation. The terminals from these providers will offer expanded service options, including Inmarsat's Global Xpress service, to business aviation customers. Additionally, there will be upgrade options for existing terminals to access new satellites. Viasat's ViaSat-3 Americas satellite, which had a minor malfunction, is still operational and will contribute to its planned capacity, along with additional satellites and network improvements. |
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| | Via Satellite | Rachel Jewett | 10-25-2023 MDA has selected SpaceX to launch its next-generation Earth observation constellation, Chorus, in the fourth quarter of 2025. Chorus will consist of C-band and X-band synthetic aperture radar satellites that will image the Earth day or night, regardless of weather conditions. The constellation will provide governments, companies, and organizations around the world with near real-time data to help solve some of the biggest problems facing our planet. |
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🏛️US Government Satellite News |
| Space News | Sandra Erwin | 10-26-2023 Tesat-Spacecom's laser communication terminals passed key ground tests for Space Development Agency satellites, selected by Lockheed Martin. The agency aims to create a satellite mesh network with laser communication terminals to transfer data in space. Tesat's terminals will be integrated with Lockheed Martin's satellites for launch in late 2024, ensuring compliance with technical standards. Tesat-Spacecom also plans to establish a U.S. subsidiary for military and commercial programs. |
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| | | 11111 Sunset Hills Rd, Reston, VA, 20190 |
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