U.S. Defense, Air Force Invite Hackers to Re-Imagine How Space Systems Are Secured
August 3, 2020 | U.S. Air ForceEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
The U.S. Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense are changing the way they approach building secure and resilient space systems by inviting the global security research community to hone their space domain hacking skills in an open and collaborative environment.
On Aug. 7 to 9, the Department of the Air Force and DOD’s Defense Digital Service will premiere the Space Security Challenge 2020, a mixture of virtual workshops and prize challenges related to securing space systems, including a live capture-the-flag (CTF) style satellite hacking competition dubbed “Hack-A-Sat.”
“We are excited about this year’s Hack-a-Sat Challenge at DEF CON Safe Mode,” said Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics. “Space is an increasingly important contributor to global economies and security. Letting experts hack an orbiting satellite will teach us how to build more secure systems in the future.”
Both departments are working in close coordination with DEF CON’s Aerospace Village to virtually showcase the team’s mission: build a diverse community committed to promoting and developing aerospace cybersecurity expertise and knowledge through positive collaboration.
The virtual workshops are intended to support and generate burgeoning interest across the aerospace security domain, while the CTF competition will challenge some of the world’s most skilled hacking teams to test their skills at hacking a government satellite system.
More than 2,000 teams made up of more than 6,000 individuals earned points based on their accuracy and speed solving binary challenges during the jeopardy-style CTF Qualification Event in late May. Eight of the most talented teams have been invited to the Hack-A-Sat final event where they will be challenged to reverse engineer and operate satellite systems in order to earn "flags,” or binary codes. Additionally, there are several aerospace cyber security virtualized workshops and educational opportunities aimed to improve the security, safety and resilience of space systems through virtual “hands-on” learning. By enabling this type of collaboration, DDS and the Department of the Air Force intend to learn from the community and change how space systems are acquired, secured and integrated.
Spectators and researchers looking to immerse themselves in the Hack-A-Sat contest and learn more about the challenges of cybersecurity in space are invited to visit hackasat.com to access the 3D Hackers’ Den experience. A 3D Satellite Ops Center will broadcast live programming throughout the three-day event including a keynote show titled “Between Two Nerds” where Brett Goldstein, DDS director, and Roper will talk candidly about why securing this domain is imperative to maintain life as we know it. A live broadcast agenda can be found at hackasat.com.
Whether it’s learning to attempt to send messages to a mock aircraft or mimicking the types of commands used to hack a mock satellite, workshop participants will learn about aviation and aerospace through play. Visit dds.mil/defcon/ to learn more about Bricks in the Air, the four bay avionics workshop designed with the LEGO Bricks’ Technic series; CPX SimpleSat and DDSat-1, the satellite hacking workshop; and Nyan-Sat, the ground station hacking workshop developed in partnership with Red Balloon Security. On Aug. 6, the vibrant, web-based virtual reality environment goes live at dds-virtual.com. In order to play, participants only need a Twitch account. Not required — a verified email address or special VR equipment. The first 500 to complete one of the Bricks in the Air, CPX SimpleSat or DDSat-1 challenges will receive a free Bricks in the Air T-shirt.
The CTF competition and virtual workshops are meant to be educational and revelatory; the DoD does not condone hacking for malicious gain. In bringing together two often perceived at-odds communities — the DOD and hackers — the department aims to tackle the unforeseen security risks in aerospace systems, attract security research talent and influence a more resilient design and development process for future assets.
Suggested Items
Regal Rexnord, Honeywell To Collaborate On Solutions For Advanced Aircraft Mobility And eVTOL Markets
12/09/2024 | HoneywellRegal Rexnord Corporation and Honeywell announced that the two companies have entered into a multi-year collaboration to build technologies for the emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market and be installed on Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Case Study: PCB Design Flaws Affect Product Cost
12/03/2024 | Matt Stevenson, ASC SunstoneIn the rapidly evolving aerospace industry, precision and reliability are paramount. “AeroTech Solutions” (not the company’s real name), an aerospace company specializing in satellite technology, recently faced a significant challenge that tested its operational integrity: A flaw identified in the PCB design of its latest satellite model led to unexpected delays and cost overruns.
VORAGO Technologies, Collabora Partner to Advance Open Source in Space
11/25/2024 | GlobeNewswireVORAGO Technologies, a leading provider of radiation hardened and radiation tolerant MCUs and MPUs for Aerospace and Defense, and Collabora, a leader in open source software and support, announced they are partnering to advance the use of open source to achieve resilience for mission critical applications in space.
Aeluma Secures NASA Contract to Advance Quantum Dot Photonic Integrated Circuits for Aerospace and AI Applications
11/25/2024 | ACCESSWIREAeluma, Inc., a semiconductor company specializing in high-performance, scalable technologies for mobile, automotive, AI, defense and aerospace, communication and quantum computing, announced it has been awarded a contract by NASA to develop quantum dot photonic integrated circuits (PICs) on silicon.
AirBorn Announces Agreement to be Acquired by Molex
11/18/2024 | PRNewswireAirBorn, a global manufacturer of high reliability electronics and components, announced it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Molex, a leading global connectivity and electronics solutions provider.