The European Space Agency recently conducted a unique cybersecurity exercise to test satellite defenses against potential hackers. In a first-of-its-kind exercise, cybersecurity experts from the space industry sought to take control of the agency’s demonstration nano-satellite.

During the exercise, hackers used ethical hacking techniques to gain control of the satellite’s global positioning system, orientation control system, and onboard camera. The hackers managed to intercept the data sent to Earth and even alter the images taken by the camera.

Why was an experiment done to hack a controlled satellite?

This exercise demonstrates the vulnerability of satellites to hackers and the critical need for updated security solutions. As more companies and organizations rely on satellites for information and operations, both military and civilian satellites must protect against attacks by providing advanced security solutions that prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Pierre-Yves Jolivet, Vice President of Cyber ​​Solutions, emphasized the importance of drills in identifying potential flaws and vulnerabilities in satellite systems. The results of this training will help tailor current and future operations to better protect against such attacks.

China also recently let AI take control of a satellite to see how it would behave. While he didn’t have the same level of control as the hackers during the ESA exercise, he learned a lot about what artificial intelligence could do with satellites in the future.