The US intelligence community is warning the local space industry of the increased risk of espionage and satellite attacks by China, Russia and other enemies.

US space-related companies are at risk from “cyberattacks, strategic investments (including joint ventures and acquisitions), targeting key supply chain nodes, and other methods to gain access to the space industry.” National US counterintelligence. and the Center for Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Air Force on Friday.

The warning says such foreign intelligence operations pose a risk to corporate secrets and “disrupt and disrupt U.S. satellite communications, remote sensing and imaging capabilities,” with several recent attacks on satellites and both the U.S. economy and national security increasingly relying on space.

The alert advises companies to log anomalies, set up an insider threat program to hunt down moles, and be cautious about accessing conferences and online, as well as visit requests from foreign organizations. It also warns against “unwelcome offers to form joint ventures with companies affiliated with foreign governments or state-owned businesses.”

China and Russia have historically denied allegations of hacking attacks and other attempts to break into or disrupt space systems. A representative from the Chinese embassy in Washington said that the country has always been committed to peaceful space exploration and believes it should be used for the benefit of all humanity. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The United States is particularly interested in supporting small and medium-sized satellite companies that may not be aware of the scale and types of risks and helping them strengthen risk mitigation, according to a US counterintelligence official who spoke on anonymity to share details. and endurance efforts.

Large satellite companies that already have ties to the government were also targeted. Viasat Inc. Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it suffered a cyberattack in 2022, resulting in the company replacing more than 45,000 modems in Europe and beyond. star connection — part of Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX — said it faced parasite attacks as part of efforts to provide services to Ukraine.

This month, the US Space Force announced a new task force targeting enemies in space and ground stations and the threats they pose to US satellite systems in space. Source