Abstract
Space systems represent a vital part of great powers' critical infrastructure and are the concern of national security. Space provides essential civilian and military services which disruption would result in severe consequences leading from economic losses to catastrophic events.
However, the emergence of "New Space" with an increased number of commercial enterprises and space systems, accompanied by the worsening relations between major space powers, raises severe concerns about space security and protection of space assets. In addition to that, most space systems are inherently dualuse; being a potential subject of both civilian and military utilization and interest.
Accordingly, space powers are actively engaged in developing advanced counterspace capabilities that could be used to their advantage. Nevertheless, despite the security risks, little focus is paid to protecting space assets against cyber-attacks and security breaches.
Cyberattacks may diverge from theft or denial of information to control or destruction of satellite systems, their subcomponents, or supporting infrastructure. Cyber-attacks provide advantageous disruptive capability due to its limited attribution, range of effect, flexibility, accessibility and affordable cost.
Moreover, space systems often lack substantial cyber resilience, and cyberattacks can be combined with other counterspace capabilities such as electronic or kinetic anti-satellite weapons for decisive outcomes. Thus, the article aims to illuminate the opportunities and consequences of malicious space cyber operations and address cyber protection of space assets.
The article elaborates on cyber threats that could be used for offensive and hybrid operations in outer space and discusses their implications for space relations and space warfare strategies. The emphasis is given on the space weaponization and perception of space as a new theatre of war in the reflection of the deficient space regime and the need for enhanced cyber resilience of space assets.