UNSW Canberra Space experts are pioneering a state-of-the-art AI system to strengthen the resilience and defensive capabilities of satellite networks against evolving cyber threats.
In collaboration with the UNSW Institute for Cyber Security, this project is a significant step toward developing fully autonomous, AI-powered space systems capable of adapting and thriving in dynamic and potentially hostile space environments. As critical infrastructure, satellite networks are prime targets for cyber adversaries, and this initiative is positioned to lead the way in creating systems that safeguard satellite constellations, ensuring continuity and security across multiple mission-critical applications.
Intelligent Satellite Constellation Sandbox (ISaCS)
At the core of this project is the Intelligent Satellite Constellation Sandbox (ISaCS), an advanced, high-fidelity platform designed to equip satellites with the intelligence to autonomously detect, anticipate, and defend against cyber threats. ISaCS creates a comprehensive simulated environment that enables the development, testing, and refinement of satellite constellations to assess their responses to diverse mission scenarios and cyber threat landscapes. The platform uses advanced AI techniques, notably distributed learning, to build robust satellite defences. Through distributed AI, intelligence is shared across multiple satellites in the constellation, empowering each satellite with both collective and individual situational awareness, crucial for maintaining network integrity even if parts of the system experience disruption.
ISaCS serves as both a testing environment and a learning framework where AI models can continuously adapt and improve. Each simulation run on ISaCS not only tests the system's resilience but also contributes to refining the AI's response mechanisms, making it more adept at recognizing and mitigating emerging threats. The resulting level of autonomy could drastically reduce reliance on ground-based interventions, thus enhancing the reliability of satellite operations and resilience against cyber threats. This innovative approach holds the potential to revolutionize the cybersecurity posture of satellite networks, making them inherently more secure, adaptive, and resilient.
Architecture Representation of ISaCS system
Cyber Resilience in Space: Addressing the Threat Landscape
As satellite networks continue to grow in importance for global communications, navigation, Earth observation, and defence, they increasingly attract cyber adversaries looking to exploit vulnerabilities for strategic gain. The complexity of space systems, combined with limited physical accessibility, requires unique cybersecurity measures to ensure continuity of service and mission integrity. Cyber resilience in space encompasses a suite of capabilities that go beyond traditional cybersecurity: systems must autonomously detect, isolate, and recover from incidents to maintain mission-critical functionality, even under direct attack.
In this regard, ISaCS integrates advanced cyber resilience techniques to create a robust satellite constellation capable of fending off cyberattacks. By leveraging distributed AI, each satellite in the network is capable of independently detecting anomalies, communicating with other satellites to coordinate a network-wide response, and reallocating resources as needed. For example, in the event of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack on one satellite, the AI can redistribute data transmission tasks to unaffected satellites, minimizing operational disruption. This distributed intelligence approach is key to addressing modern cyber threats that might otherwise compromise a centralized system. Through autonomous, real-time decision-making, ISaCS-equipped satellites can dynamically adapt to varying threat conditions, thus providing a higher level of operational resilience.
The increasing sophistication of cyber threats, including ransomware, data tampering, and signal interference, underscores the need for a proactive defence posture in space. By embedding resilience within the very fabric of satellite networks, ISaCS allows for prompt incident response, preserving functionality while mitigating the potential impacts of sophisticated attacks.
Stakeholder and End-User Engagement
One of the key elements of this project is stakeholder engagement. We have a dedicated research officer with years of industry experience leading the end-user engagement, leveraging targeted strategies to understand the specific cybersecurity needs within the space-based infrastructure sector. This outreach involves structured interviews, surveys, and collaborative workshops with key stakeholders, including satellite operators and regulatory authorities. By capturing insights directly from these end-users, we intend to uncover critical requirements that will inform the direction of our research. This approach ensures that the developed resilience framework is both practical and adaptable to real-world applications. The findings from these engagements will highlight the current challenges, threat landscapes, and resilience priorities. These insights will ultimately guide the research toward solutions that address the most pressing vulnerabilities and operational needs in the industry.
References
Cyber Resilience Limitations in Space Systems Design Process: Insights from Space Designers - https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/12/10/434
Unveiling Cybersecurity Risks: Analysing Commercial CubeSat Vulnerabilities through Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Modelling. 21st ASRC 2023
Deep-Federated-Learning-Based Threat Detection Model for Extreme Satellite Communications," in IEEE Internet of Things Journal, doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2023.3301626.
Cybersecurity of Satellite Communications Systems: A Comprehensive Survey of the Space, Ground, and Links Segments, in IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, doi: 10.1109/COMST.2024.3408277.