The Increasing Threat to Satellite Communications

By Sean Patrick Bain
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Abstract

Communication security has been a priority since the beginning of recorded history. The survival of human cultures has always relied on the use of accurate information transported over distances. The interception of this information, preventing its reception or its misuse, can alter the course of nations. As technology advances, so too does the threat to modern satellite communication. The methods of interfering with or intercepting satellite signals are numerous and need to be better understood.
	This image was acquired using the ‘Privateer’ assembly from a passing NOAA satellite. Notice the detail of the California wildfires taking -place in the lower left-hand portion of the image.
As has been demonstrated by a small team of undergraduate students, the capability to intercept the nation's communication satellite signals is no longer limited to national powers but can be mastered by individuals using off-the-shelf technologies.

Defense against signal interception requires reconsideration of spacecraft design in terms of transmission, propulsion, and encoding technologies. It is imperative that efforts be taken to minimize vulnerability and prevent those with hostile intentions from compromising security.

Introduction: The Necessity of Security in Modern Satellite Communication

The issue of communications security is a universal concept stemming throughout recorded history. In ancient kingdoms and nation-states, scribes were specifically appointed by the ruling power. As compensation, they would typically enjoy a life of comfort and safety, relatively rare commodities in for the era in which they lived.The ruling powers would ensure these attributes for a single reason: scribes were the only members of ancient society with the capability to not only produce, but interpret and relay the only means of true long-range communication - writing.

Although scribes played an arguably prominent role in this era and enjoyed more benefits, efforts would have been moot if not for the component by the traveling messenger. Although this charge would typically require fewer skills and less education that the scribes’, the assured delivery or transmission of a document often proved paramount to the affairs and concerns of the state for which they served. In some powers of the world at that time, a messenger would often reap the same benefits afforded to a scribe for earned trust, devotion, and success in missions.

The application of these two roles in a world power pre-dating electronic signal communication or modern transportation beyond a horse-back rider or chariot was often pivotal both to policy decisions of the ruling party and the citizens they served. These messenger communications would be considered urgent to the receiver, given that the before mentioned message would over-ride any diplomatic contact and be considered time-sensitive. Often in fact these messages would include declarations of diplomatic foreign concern such as a tribute payment, a warning of intent, or an outright declaration of war. Other necessities requiring this service and its expense would be in the acquiring and timely distribution of intelligence.

Given the often-sensitive nature of these messages, opposing or otherwise hostile powers would often employ the services of those willing to seek out and acquire these messages by any means possible. This role would often be filled by an individual or individuals of an aggressive nature (often a soldier, spy, or otherwise member of the ruling parties' employ) and charged with the pursuit, interception, acquiring, and submission of any captured documentation. Another method of disrupting this communication process would be the corruption (either through bribe, blackmail, or mortal threat) of the scribe. Once turned, the scribe would often be able to provide important intelligence and skills.

An additional concept arose from this effort, specifically from an individual profiteering perspective: piracy. Individual highwayman would patrol transit routes to capture and kill these messengers and sell the information to the highest bidder. Due to the increasingly hazardous nature of a messenger’s task the initial ruling party (employing the messenger) would employ newer means as they were developed to help ensure the safe delivery of these often-critical messages. The tasked messengers would be furnished with fast horses, carriages, light weaponry, and any other means for the individual transporter to attain their sponsors’ goal as completely and as safely as possible.

As technology improved among the cooperative and opposing nation-states worldwide, new means of communication transmission were developed. Ocean travel, spurred largely by an inherent human need to explore and expand their holdings, became the most prevalent method of transportation and the long-range transmission of written messages. With any advancement, however, a counter-force by an opposing power always faces it. To counter the first parties’ additional training, provisions, and transportation of the messengers hostile forces would similarly equip their interceptors.

Similarly, to counter ocean-going transports, fast warships were developed with the capability and armament necessary to intercept, disable, destroy, and otherwise prevent the successful transmission of an opposing forces' intent. This process has continued through the founding of the New World, the development of electronic communication, two world wars, the Cold War between the United states and the former Soviet Union, and ultimately the modern day.

As such, what does the preceding explanation of largely medieval concepts and methods have to do with modern satellite communication security? As with most development throughout the world, technology will change, but concepts and premises remain the same. Earth orbiting satellite communication systems operate on the same general premise that any other communication structures use. Signals are generated to respond to a certain goal of a consumer; this is a role comparable to a scribe in that it is an isolated device singularly capable of utilizing the data. This apparatus must be considered as the processing devices that occupy both the ground stations utilizing the orbiting satellite and the onboard processing unit controlling the spacecraft itself. The signal transmission itself, either sent from the ground station to the satellite, or satellite to the ground station, represents the role of the messenger. Just as the these parallels exist in the operational perspective of satellite communication, so to does the rising challenge of opposing powers working to use these communications against users.

Sean Bain is an Aerospace Engineering student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. The focus of his study is spacecraft design, global security and intelligence.