No facet of American infrastructure is safe from malicious actors such as China and Russia, who have launched multiple cyberattacks against spacecraft. To this end, Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) partnered with Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) to introduce a bill strengthening our resistance to these attacks on our spacefaring technology.
Named with a sense of urgency, the Spacecraft Cybersecurity Act mandates NASA to implement cybersecurity protection plans before allocating Federal funds to contractors. This proactive approach is crucial in potentially preventing or mitigating the impact of cyberattacks on our spacefaring technology.
The potential consequences of cyberattacks on satellites and other spacecraft are grave. As reported by tech site Ars Technica, Russia's hack of Ukraine's Viasat satellite internet service right before its invasion caused widespread confusion. This underscores the serious implications of such attacks.
Thus, Rep. Frost and Rep. Beyer's bill requires manufacturers to establish defenses before applying for funding, and NASA must establish standards for cyber defense within 270 days of the bill's enactment.
"Cybersecurity threats by organized crime leaders and foreign adversaries are increasing and evolving rapidly, putting at risk our reliance on space for communications, intelligence, and business. As we enter a new era of cyber threats, establishing a reasonable timeline for NASA to incorporate cybersecurity measures into their acquisition process is more important than ever. The Spacecraft Cybersecurity Act would safeguard NASA's space missions and continue to advance our country's leadership in space exploration that contributes to our economy, security, and understanding of space," said Rep. Frost in his press release.
Rep. Beyer added, "With cyber threats on the rise, the urgency of implementing high-quality cybersecurity standards for American space assets and operations cannot be overstated. Our legislation will ensure that NASA has comprehensive, high-quality cybersecurity measures in place to protect sensitive information related to vital space infrastructure and secure the continuity of space operations."
In May, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) briefly spoke of cyberattacks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, saying, "A red state, a blue state, they are both going to be equally impacted. They are both fertile ground for hacking, especially when you get down to the congressional and even local levels."
