Cybersecurity expert SpiderOak announced on June 22 the successful in-orbit test of its OrbitSecure software running on a Ball Aerospace payload.

“This is the first time a zero trust program is being run in space,” he said. SpaceNews Charles Beams is CEO of SpiderOak.

Zero trust is important because it provides data-level security, Beams said. Every data record is encrypted and stored in a digital ledger. Only someone with the appropriate encryption key can access a particular record. What’s more, if a hacker breaks the encryption, the attack will be discovered and new encryption keys will be issued immediately, Beams said.

SpiderOak demonstrates OrbitSecure on a Ball Aerospace payload launched into Earth orbit on the Loft Orbital satellite in January. Payload includes Ball’s Open Software System (BOSS) framework designed for rapid data processing and application change in orbit.

After launch, SpiderOak worked closely with Ball to download and demonstrate the OrbitSecure software. “The demonstration completes an important milestone in demonstrating the data security and flexibility benefits of OrbitSecure,” said SpiderOak CEO Dave Pira as testing continues.

floor test

SpiderOak also conducted extensive ground tests of OrbitSecure with satellite test beds from Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Ball. However, the spaceflight test is an important milestone.

“The successful operation of any military system in an operational environment is always an important milestone,” retired U.S. Air Force General Ellen Pawlikowski, member of the SpiderOaks Space Advisory Board, said in a statement. “In the brutal environment of space, there is no better confirmation that a system is ready to be deployed.”

Jake Sauer, vice president and chief technology officer of Ball Aerospace, described the demonstration as “a step towards strengthening the resilience of our space ecosystem.”

Cyber ​​security issues

The US Space Force seeks $700 million from its 2024 budget for cybersecurity. General B. Chance Salzman, head of the Space Force’s space operations division, told the Defense Subcommittee on House Appropriations in March that the funding will be spent on cybersecurity software, equipment and training.