Written by
Peter Beentjes
Satellites now underpin telecommunications, navigation, defence capabilities, financial systems, energy grids, and critical infrastructure worldwide. As the sector grows at unprecedented speed, it faces a rapidly escalating threat: cyber attacks targeting the weakest links across the space ecosystem.
This is no longer a future risk.
It is an operational reality.
Understanding the Frontline
Cyber attacks against space infrastructure have increased at a pace that exceeds most other critical sectors. Based on research conducted by Cybercompany, drawing on data from Cyber Reports 2024 – Hacking the Cosmos: Cyber Operations Against Space Assets, the ENISA Threat Landscape 2024, and the CrowdStrike Global Threat Report 2024, reported cyber incidents targeting space infrastructure have risen from 70 incidents in 2021 to 230 incidents in 2024.
That represents a 229% increase in just four years.
For comparison, cyber attacks against broader critical infrastructure such as energy and transport increased from 650 incidents in 2021 to 1,500 incidents in 2024, a rise of 131%. While this growth is significant, attacks on space infrastructure are escalating faster. Space systems are following the same threat trajectory as other vital sectors, but with greater acceleration and higher systemic risk.
Structural Cybersecurity Challenges in the Space Sector
Our analysis of the Space Threat Assessment 2024 alongside historical NASA cybersecurity reports highlights persistent structural challenges across the space industry.
Fragmented Cybersecurity Governance
Historically, NASA missions and departments applied decentralised cybersecurity strategies. This led to inconsistencies in controls, uneven maturity levels, and increased exposure to cyber threats, as documented in NASA’s Cybersecurity Readiness reports. Although improvements have been made, fragmentation remains a broader issue across the commercial space sector.
Compliance Struggles in High-Innovation Environments
Earlier evaluations found that not all systems met NIST SP 800-53 requirements. This reflects a sector-wide challenge: rapid innovation often outpaces governance and compliance alignment.
Slow Security Transformation
NASA introduced the Cybersecurity and Privacy Enterprise Solutions and Services (CyPrESS) programme to centralise cybersecurity efforts. However, implementation progressed slowly, a challenge mirrored by many commercial space organisations facing similar operational constraints.
From Fragmentation to Centralisation: The CyPrESS Shift
In response, NASA launched the CyPrESS programme in 2022 in partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton under a $622.5 million contract. The objective was to unify cybersecurity across IT systems, operational technology, and mission systems under a single framework.
This shift carries two important lessons:
For NASA: It represents a decisive move from decentralised security to enterprise-level cyber governance.
For the wider space industry: Fragmented security models create unacceptable risk. Centralised strategies are essential for long-term cyber resilience.
Commercial space organisations can learn from this transition before similar incidents force reactive change.
The increase in attacks is not only quantitative but qualitative. Our analysis shows that adversaries are using increasingly sophisticated methods, including:
Ransomware that disrupts satellite ground stations and halts operations
Jamming and GPS spoofing that interfere with navigation systems, particularly in geopolitical conflict zones
Supply chain attacks that introduce malicious software into critical components long before deployment
These techniques demonstrate how cyber threats in the space sector have evolved beyond traditional IT compromises into mission-impacting operations.
Why Space Is Under Fire
The question is no longer whether the space sector will be targeted, but how often and with what consequences. our structural factors make space infrastructure a prime target:
Rapid Commercialisation of Space
Private initiatives such as SpaceX and Project Kuiper are accelerating innovation but also increasing complexity and fragmentation in security standards.
Geopolitical Cyber Warfare
State actors including China and Russia explicitly incorporate space operations into their cyber warfare doctrines. Attacks on satellite networks carry economic, military, and political implications.
Asymmetry Between Attack and Defence
Attackers rapidly adopt AI-driven and automated techniques, while defensive capabilities in the space sector often lag due to legacy systems and regulatory constraints.
Growing Dependence on Space Infrastructure
From GPS and climate monitoring to emergency services and global communications, modern society increasingly depends on satellite data. A successful cyber attack can trigger cascading global disruption.
Cyber Resilience in Space Operations
Cyber resilience in space is not only about prevention.
It is about minimising impact and maintaining operational continuity.
This requires a fundamental shift in approach.
Dynamic Threat Intelligence
Space organisations must integrate real-time threat intelligence into operational decision-making instead of relying on post-incident response.
Zero Trust Architectures
No user, system, or entity should be trusted by default, particularly within mission control environments and satellite command systems.
Redundancy and Incident Response by Design
Backup communication paths and recovery mechanisms must be designed under the assumption that attacks are inevitable. Resilience is built before incidents occur, not after.
Conclusion: Cybersecurity as a Strategic Imperative
The nature of cyber threats facing the space sector makes one reality clear: traditional cybersecurity models are no longer sufficient. The industry stands at a critical crossroads. The decisions made in the coming years will determine whether space infrastructure remains reliable or becomes a systemic vulnerability. At Mason Pete, we believe cyber resilience is not about fear-driven defence. It is about managing uncertainty, maintaining control, and ensuring operational stability. Cybersecurity is not a cost of doing business in space.
It is a prerequisite for innovation, trust, and sustainable growth.
Only organisations that act proactively will be prepared for the cyber threats of tomorrow.
Sources and data substantiation