Space is an integral part of our daily lives on Earth. Space-based infrastructure, especially satellites in orbit, plays a crucial role in communication, navigation, and Earth observation services. This makes resilience up there key for security.
Robust space systems and secure satellite communication are critical for both civil and military infrastructure.
“Space is a prerequisite for many services on Earth that we don’t even think about, such as GPS services that enable communication and navigation, or telematics from vehicles and industry that depend on space services,” says Mattias Wallén, Chief Information Security Officer at SSC.
The role of space systems in the overall societal security is now being prioritized like never before. As we become increasingly dependent on satellites in our daily lives, the risks of threat grows equally. With rising geopolitical tensions, space-based infrastructure becomes a natural target — but how do we stay protected?
“Resilience was barely discussed some ten years ago. And space is challenging because the usual borders and boundaries of the world no longer apply. But the need for resilience is growing in today’s geopolitical situation which demands vigilance in both cyber and physical security, personnel safety, and more,” says Emma Stenholm, Chief Security Officer at SSC.
One of the services driving the space market forward is Earth observation, i.e., photos and radar images taken from remote sensing satellites. The data provided by these satellites is critical for climate research but also plays an increasing role in security efforts.
“From a crisis perspective, Earth observations are an incredibly important tool for managing emergencies. The wildfires in Canada is one of many examples. Another example is how we continuously use this data to monitor food production. These types of civil societal functions are critical and worth protecting,” says Emma Stenholm.
However, space is a finite resource. With major nations like the USA, China, Russia, and India engaging in a new kind of space race for satellite dominance, the lower orbits around Earth risk becoming quickly overcrowded.
“The space race also includes access to the Moon, where nations aim to extract natural resources and establish ground base facilities. Through the Artemis program, the USA plans to place humans on the Moon by 2027, and China plans to build a base at the Moon’s south pole after 2030,” says Mattias Wallén.
How do you view space capabilities as part of the nation’s societal security?
“In Sweden, we talk a lot about strengthening our civil defense and accelerating development. My concern is that it’s not happening fast enough compared to other parts of the world, making us more vulnerable. A positive sign, however, is the capability now being developed at Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden to launch satellites within a few years. This is an incredibly important asset for independent access to space,” says Emma Stenholm.
How do we ensure resilience in a time of increasing geopolitical tensions?
“The complexity of today’s satellite networks, especially large mega-constellations, introduces new risks of intrusion. At the same time, we see new ways to protect ourselves. For example, AI-driven cyber defenses that share data and dynamically adjust their systems in orbit can be a way to quickly respond to cyber attacks. It’s also important that governments, industries, and academia work together to establish new security standards,” concludes Mattias Wallén.
Read more about cyber security in space: https://sscspace.com/the-future-of-space-cybersecurity-a-new-era-of-threats-and-innovations/
