Security within space data systems

To date, many civil space missions have relied on the unique nature of space mission data systems to prevent unauthorised access to ground and space assets. However, within the relatively open environment created by the use of space data system standards, it is now essential that the security requirements for space missions are given priority. Specific security measures will be required within the space mission data system to counter specific threats from a wide range of sources. This has always been the case for military space missions, but as civil space systems start to play a role within safety-of-life applications such as air traffic control, the requirements for security are becoming increasingly important. Also, many civil missions now have important commercial interests which require protection. Work has commenced within the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) to develop an approach for applying security to CCSDS protocols. This paper introduces the different security threats and requirements that should be considered for the various space mission types as well as the technical approaches and mechanisms that can be used to counter specific threats. In the concert of space mission operations, encryption, authentication and data integrity mechanisms are reviewed. This examination is carried out with reference to the security architecture that has been developed by ISO and is used to present a potential CCSDS Security Architecture